Published Sunday, 22 April, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
QUEENSLAND’S CROCS COUNTED
The true nature of Queensland’s estuarine crocodile population will be assessed as part of the draft Statewide Crocodile Conservation Plan currently out for public comment.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said a comprehensive survey would be conducted by the Queensland Government to assess the number of crocodiles within the populated east coast area since the last survey in 2004.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) would carry out the survey, which would target 24 key rivers in central and northern Queensland.
“There has been a lot of speculation recently about crocodile populations ‘exploding’. This survey will give us an accurate picture of what is really going on across a large proportion of Queensland’s croc country,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“The survey will tell us a lot of things about these animals, such as including information about the current distribution and abundance (by size) of crocodiles in waterways of the populated East Coast, and will allow the QPWS to compare current numbers with historical data to determine trends in population change.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the last comprehensive survey was completed in 2000. Since that time, opportunistic surveys have been done in response to crocodile sightings.
“Those surveys have indicated that there has been little growth in estuarine crocodile numbers in Queensland in that time, but the latest round of surveys will tell us for sure,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
The surveys will involve travelling up the rivers at night in a boat and shining a powerful spotlight onto the water. The crocodiles’ eyes then shine, making them stand out from the rest of their environment.
The surveys will be conducted at night until the end of this month, with a report due to the Minister by June 2007.
Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 336 8002
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said a comprehensive survey would be conducted by the Queensland Government to assess the number of crocodiles within the populated east coast area since the last survey in 2004.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) would carry out the survey, which would target 24 key rivers in central and northern Queensland.
“There has been a lot of speculation recently about crocodile populations ‘exploding’. This survey will give us an accurate picture of what is really going on across a large proportion of Queensland’s croc country,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“The survey will tell us a lot of things about these animals, such as including information about the current distribution and abundance (by size) of crocodiles in waterways of the populated East Coast, and will allow the QPWS to compare current numbers with historical data to determine trends in population change.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the last comprehensive survey was completed in 2000. Since that time, opportunistic surveys have been done in response to crocodile sightings.
“Those surveys have indicated that there has been little growth in estuarine crocodile numbers in Queensland in that time, but the latest round of surveys will tell us for sure,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
The surveys will involve travelling up the rivers at night in a boat and shining a powerful spotlight onto the water. The crocodiles’ eyes then shine, making them stand out from the rest of their environment.
The surveys will be conducted at night until the end of this month, with a report due to the Minister by June 2007.
Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 336 8002