EPA INVESTIGATES HERVEY BAY CROCODILE SIGHTING

Environmental Protection Agency rangers are investigating reports of a 4.8m crocodile in Hervey Bay, Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara said today.

Mr McNamara, the Member for Hervey Bay, said the report followed another alleged sighting of a crocodile at the other end of the Great Sandy Region in Baffle Creek, about 150km northwest, about the same time.

Information of both events only came to light this week. Mr McNamara said the EPA was treating both as credible and further investigations were taking place.

“Despite the time lapse and the distance between the events, it’s still worth paying that extra bit of caution,” he said.

The first sighting being investigated happened seven weeks ago but rangers were only alerted this week.

A Victorian man, staying with a friend in the Hervey Bay marina, photographed what he said were the marks of a 4.8m crocodile on Round Island, about 500m off the Urangan Boat Harbour.

Rangers said that although it was difficult to say for sure what had made the marks, they were consistent with a crocodile.

“His friend approached a ranger at the marina this week, then the EPA tracked the man down to Victoria,” Mr McNamara said.

“He told them he had lived in an area where there were plenty of crocodiles. The man gave the EPA photos he took on the day.

“He told rangers he had measured the imprint using his sandshoe and that it came in at 16ft.

“That’s a big crocodile, so if it was still around in such a busy part of the bay, you’d expect someone to have seen it. But I am still asking boaties to keep their eyes peeled and contact the EPA if they see anything.”

After receiving the second report, EPA officers last night surveyed Baffle Creek, but did not sight any crocodiles.

Mr McNamara urged anyone who saw a crocodile to photograph it and observe its movements if they could do so without putting themself in danger, and contact the EPA immediately.

More information: Scott Dixon 3336 8004