Queensland Crocodile Management update released

The first stage of the most comprehensive survey of Queensland’s estuarine crocodile population in over a decade has been completed, and the Palaszczuk Government has released the latest updated report.

In Cairns today to release the annual Queensland Crocodile Management Update, Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said that the report gave a snapshot of the Government’s efforts to manage crocodiles in Queensland over the course of a year.

“This update highlights the crucial work our wildlife staff have undertaken, including the crocodile population monitoring program, investigations of sighting reports, removal of problem crocodiles, the Crocwise education campaign and compliance activities under the conservation laws,” Ms Enoch said.

“The overall aim of the crocodile monitoring program is to determine the size, distributions and densities of estuarine crocodile population in different waterways.

“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.”

The annual update released today highlights that specially trained wildlife officers from the Department of Environment and Science (DES) surveyed more than 2000km of waterways during 2017, the first year of the three-year crocodile monitoring program.

This work involved night time vessel-based surveys in waterways from Gladstone to Cape York Peninsula and the adjoining Gulf of Carpentaria, as well as daytime helicopter surveys of coastal waterways from the Hinchinbrook Channel to the Daintree River.

Minister Enoch said night and daytime surveys were also carried out in six waterways south of Rockhampton, all of which were outside normal crocodile habitat. No crocodiles were observed in these streams.

“The crocodile monitoring program is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $5.8 million commitment over three years for crocodile management,” Ms Enoch said.

“The results of this survey will provide scientifically-sound information on the estuarine crocodile population in Queensland that will be used to directly inform ongoing management arrangement for crocodiles.

“The department has removed record numbers of problem crocodiles over the past couple of years, with 84 removed in 2017, most of which came from the populated east coast between Townsville and Port Douglas.

“DES staff also work tirelessly to educate the public about being Crocwise in croc country and reached more than 50,000 people last year.

“On top of this important work to manage Queensland’s crocodiles, our wildlife officers also assisted with investigations into the unlawful deaths of eight crocs, and three people were prosecuted for the illegal take of crocodiles in 2017.

“The Government is confident that Queensland’s approach to crocodile management is sound.

“Once the results from the crocodile monitoring program are fully analysed, they will allow us to review our overall approach to crocodile management and how best to communicate about how to stay Crocwise in Croc country.”

The monitoring program is expected to conclude in late 2019 and a detailed report will be prepared in 2020.

A copy of the Queensland crocodile management update for 2017 and further information about the crocodile monitoring program can be found here: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/crocodiles/crocodile_plan.html

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