Problem croc explosion
THE number of “problem crocodiles” removed from Queensland waterways has increased as the State Government insists its management program is working.
The Department of Environment and Science removed 84 problem reptiles in 2017, compared with 78 in 2016.
The figures, released yesterday in a Queensland Crocodile Management report, revealed there were 684 estuarine crocodile sightings reported in 2017 compared with 378 the previous year.
The number of sightings has steadily increased from 2010, when there were 176.
There were also 11 dead crocodiles reported in 2017.
Department officials conducted 1380km of vessel- based surveys across 28 river systems in Queensland ranging from Bundaberg through to Cape York. They also surveyed eight river systems in helicopters last year.
The report said the number of sighting reports was not directly related to the number of crocodiles in the environment because some were reported “several times”. It also said the number of sighting reports had increased in recent years as the CrocWatch service had become better known.
Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the report highlighted the “crucial work” wildlife staff had undertaken, including the crocodile population monitoring program, investigations of sighting reports and the removal of problem crocodiles.
“The overall aim of the crocodile monitoring program is to determine the size, distributions and densities of estuarine crocodile population in different waterways,” she said.
“At the end of the program, the information collected will be analysed to determine how crocodile populations vary between different areas, and what changes have occurred over time.”
Katter’s Australia Party Hill MP Shane Knuth said the State Government needed to “get real” on croc management.
“Today’s announcement reaffirms there is a croc issue in North Queensland,’’ he said.
“The Government is reluctant to make the tough decisions because keeping southern votes is more important to them than protecting the life and livelihood of North Queenslanders.”
Mr Knuth said the 2017 sighting numbers were “extraordinary”.
“Any sane person would argue it represents a large increase in crocodile numbers,” he said. “Most people I speak to in the region tell me they don’t even bother reporting sightings any more as nothing gets done, so that increase is only the tip of the iceberg.’’
He said the provision of funding for drones to Surf Life Saving Queensland was a welcome addition to the organisation, but was not the solution to crocodile management or reducing the instances of sightings and beach closures.
“It is great for SLSQ to have access to this technology, but it doesn’t solve the root of the problem,” he said.
LNP Environment spokesman David Crisafulli said the Government’s update proved it was “not serious” about dealing with problem crocodiles.
“Rather than addressing the issue of more frequent sightings and aggressive behaviours, the update is nothing more than an attempt to kick the problem into the long grass for the next couple of years,” he said.
“We don’t need another survey, we need action on an issue that is threatening the lives of North Queensland and has the potential to damage our tourism offering.”