Government ramps up croc removals and takes CrocWise message to school kids

The Palaszczuk Government has unveiled the latest educational tool that takes the CrocWise message into the classrooms of school students in croc country.

Environment Minister Steven Miles said the new CrocWise mat, which has a life-size outline of a five-metre crocodile dwarfing an average-sized adult and a standard tinny, can be used in the classroom and loaned out to schools. 

“Last year our rangers delivered the CrocWise safety message to 3,000 students at 31 schools across croc country,” Mr Miles said.

“So far this year they’ve visited a further 14 schools and spoken to 1,450 young people.

“Public education of CrocWise behaviour is crucial in reducing the risk of a crocodile attack.

“The CrocWise mat is a great tool which illustrates the dangers to children and young people in a way they can understand.”

The Environment Minister said the Government committed $2 million for crocodile management and public education programs in this year’s State Budget.

“Targeted crocodile operations have more than doubled under the Palaszczuk Government,” Mr Miles said.

“Our highly dedicated croc catchers also achieved a near-perfect score card for removing problem crocodiles within three months, well in excess of their own performance targets.

“The actual performance target was for croc catchers to remove 75% of problem crocodiles within three months of declaration.

“They have gone well above this and removed a little under 100%.

“The number of removals done in the three-month timeframe would have been 100% had it not been for one croc evading capture due to deliberate trap tampering. That croc would have been removed sooner had the trap been left undisturbed.”

The original, damaged trap was replaced but the crocodile which was seen at the Ross and Locke Reserve on the Mulgrave River, would not approach the new trap. Ultimately it was euthanised by EHP wildlife officers on 7 July this year.

Twenty-seven problem crocodiles were removed from the Cairns active removal zone by EHP contractors Dawal Wuru Indigenous Corporation (DWIC) and 44 crocodiles were removed by EHP wildlife officers in the 2016/17 financial year.

“Even taking the best year for croc removals under the Newman-Nicholls LNP government which was 2014, they only managed to remove 62 crocodiles,” Mr Miles said.

“But in 2016, the first full calendar year of our administration, we removed 80 crocodiles.

“Those figures speak for themselves and it’s yet more evidence that our crocodile management is working.”

EHP also responded to 662 estuarine crocodile sighting reports over the last 12 months, up 161 on the previous year.

All other animals removed by EHP wildlife officers were removed within one month of declaration.

For those removed by EHP, 64% were removed within a week of their declaration as problem crocodiles, 16% were removed within two weeks and 18% were removed within one month.”

Members of the public are reminded to always be CrocWise in Croc Country. In particular:

         Obey croc warning signs

         Don’t swim or let domestic pets swim in waters where crocs may live

         Be aware that crocodiles also swim in the ocean

         Stand back from the water when fishing or cast netting

         Never provoke, harass or feed crocs

         Never leave food, fish scraps or bait near the water, a camp site or boat ramp

         Never interfere with or fish or boat near crocodile traps, and

         Always supervise children

         Remember, you are responsible for your own safety in croc country.

Further information on being CrocWise is available at: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/crocodiles/crocodiles__be_croc_wise.html

ENDS

Media contact: Alison Brown - 0477 377622