Published Sunday, 08 February, 2009 at 07:30 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Crocodiles Threatening Public Safety Won’t Be Released into the Wild
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister, Andrew McNamara has released details of a comprehensive review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s management of crocodiles.
The Minister, who ordered the review in November, said public safety was the government’s first priority in crocodile management.
The Minister said the review outlined a new risk management system for crocodile capture and release.
“Crocodiles which are studied for research will only be released at the place of capture,” he said.
“Even then the release must be endorsed by the EPA Director General who reports directly to me.
“And any crocodile sighted south of the Boyne River will be caught and placed in a crocodile farm or zoo – they will never released into the wild.”
The Minister said the results of the review will establish an ongoing assessment census of crocodile numbers to take place every three years.
“In addition to this a new web-based information service called ‘CrocWatch’ is now publicly available on the EPA website,” he said.
“This site lists credible estuarine crocodile sightings and how the EPA is responding.
“A new centralised, state-wide Crocodile Management Database has also been created to manage crocodile incidents across the state.”
The Minister said that key review outcomes include:
• Estuarine crocodiles displaying aggressive behaviour in populated areas will be removed from the wild and placed with a crocodile farm or zoo.
• All crocodiles two metres or longer found in major urban areas such as Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone will be targeted for removal.
• Any estuarine (salt water) crocodiles, regardless of size, found south of the Boyne River will be removed from the wild and placed with a crocodile farm or zoo.
• Crocodile research programs will require approval from the highest level in the EPA at Director-General and Executive Director level.
• The EPA will be required to consult with local councils and Traditional Owners before crocodiles are released back to their place of capture.
• An online information service called CrocWatch has been established on the EPA website to keep communities informed of credible crocodile sightings and actions taken by the EPA.
The report was also externally reviewed and approved by a risk management expert.
Background:
The review was undertaken following allegations made by an anonymous whistleblower last year.
The allegations included a claim that two fatal crocodile attacks were closely linked to QPW’s crocodile management operations.
In the first incident, the crocodile that killed Barry Jefferies was not from another area.
Two years previously during the wet season, the crocodile moved the short distance to nearby Kalpowar Station, and got trapped at the end of the wet.
At that time and at the request of the traditional owners, the crocodile was trapped and subsequently returned by the EPA to its original home, a bend in a river a short distance from Kalpowar Station. The crocodile was in its original and long-term home when it killed Mr Jefferies.
The crocodile that killed Arthur Booker last year had never been previously caught or trapped by the EPA.
Both deaths occurred in areas that are well known croc habitats and which have very significant crocodile populations.
EPA Website: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au – Look for CrocWatch
Media contact: Bill Ferguson 3336 8004
The Minister, who ordered the review in November, said public safety was the government’s first priority in crocodile management.
The Minister said the review outlined a new risk management system for crocodile capture and release.
“Crocodiles which are studied for research will only be released at the place of capture,” he said.
“Even then the release must be endorsed by the EPA Director General who reports directly to me.
“And any crocodile sighted south of the Boyne River will be caught and placed in a crocodile farm or zoo – they will never released into the wild.”
The Minister said the results of the review will establish an ongoing assessment census of crocodile numbers to take place every three years.
“In addition to this a new web-based information service called ‘CrocWatch’ is now publicly available on the EPA website,” he said.
“This site lists credible estuarine crocodile sightings and how the EPA is responding.
“A new centralised, state-wide Crocodile Management Database has also been created to manage crocodile incidents across the state.”
The Minister said that key review outcomes include:
• Estuarine crocodiles displaying aggressive behaviour in populated areas will be removed from the wild and placed with a crocodile farm or zoo.
• All crocodiles two metres or longer found in major urban areas such as Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone will be targeted for removal.
• Any estuarine (salt water) crocodiles, regardless of size, found south of the Boyne River will be removed from the wild and placed with a crocodile farm or zoo.
• Crocodile research programs will require approval from the highest level in the EPA at Director-General and Executive Director level.
• The EPA will be required to consult with local councils and Traditional Owners before crocodiles are released back to their place of capture.
• An online information service called CrocWatch has been established on the EPA website to keep communities informed of credible crocodile sightings and actions taken by the EPA.
The report was also externally reviewed and approved by a risk management expert.
Background:
The review was undertaken following allegations made by an anonymous whistleblower last year.
The allegations included a claim that two fatal crocodile attacks were closely linked to QPW’s crocodile management operations.
In the first incident, the crocodile that killed Barry Jefferies was not from another area.
Two years previously during the wet season, the crocodile moved the short distance to nearby Kalpowar Station, and got trapped at the end of the wet.
At that time and at the request of the traditional owners, the crocodile was trapped and subsequently returned by the EPA to its original home, a bend in a river a short distance from Kalpowar Station. The crocodile was in its original and long-term home when it killed Mr Jefferies.
The crocodile that killed Arthur Booker last year had never been previously caught or trapped by the EPA.
Both deaths occurred in areas that are well known croc habitats and which have very significant crocodile populations.
EPA Website: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au – Look for CrocWatch
Media contact: Bill Ferguson 3336 8004