Concern as crocs advance

Q U E E N S L A N D c r o c o d i l e sightings have soared by more than 38 per cent with reports the reptiles are expanding their territory into areas traditionally thought to be croc free.

The management of the state’s crocodile population is shaping up to be a major election issue with 477 crocodiles sightings reported to the Environment Department so far this year, a significant jump from 345 in the same period of 2015.

Fishing Port Douglas owner Lynton Heffer has been fishing in North Queensland for 22 years and said crocodile behaviour had changed, particularly over the past two years.

“In the past couple of years we’ve certainly seen them more frequently in the more public areas,” he said.

“I don’t think they’re scared of human activity any more and they’re encroaching on areas they haven’t been in the past.

“It’s not usually see.”

Ian Jenkins, who owns Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo near Childers, said the crocodile population was spreading out.

“I think the likelihood of crocs moving further south than they traditionally have been is going to keep increasing,” he said.

Cairns was the most common area for croc sightings so far this year with 108 reports followed by the Cassowary Coast 66, Townsville 61 and Douglas 50.

Brenton Gangemi, who runs Snapping Tours on the Johnstone River in Innisfail, said he generally saw four to five crocodiles per tour. behaviour you’d