Experts unite to condemn calls for Queensland croc cull

Australia Zoo’s Terri Irwin has joined other crocodile experts to call for all Queensland MP’s to rule out a cull to manage the State’s crocodile population.

Mrs Irwin said there needed to be a better understanding of how to co-exist with crocodiles, rather than taking the extreme measure of “culling this amazing species”.

“Crocodiles are an apex predator and crucial to the ecosystem, keeping water ways and wetlands healthy. Crocodiles eradicate the weak, sick and injured wildlife, leaving only the healthy to prosper,” Mrs Irwin said.

“Crocodile culling is an incredibly inhumane practice, often leaving crocodiles with debilitating injuries.  I am involved in the most comprehensive research with saltwater crocodiles ever conducted. Science does not support culling crocodiles and it would be a disaster for both human safety and crocodile ecology.

“My husband Steve always said we need to love crocodiles and appreciate them. It is much better to educate people about croc safety than destroy one of our tourism icons,” she said.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the time had come for Opposition leader Tim Nicholls to reveal the LNP’s position on a croc cull.

“Two LNP MP’s – Jason Costigan and their Environment Spokesperson Christian Rowan – have recently publicly backed culling crocodiles,” Dr Miles said.

“That was never LNP policy in government, but apparently it is now. It is yet another example of the LNP looking more like One Nation than a Liberal Party.

“The stated policy of the LNP Opposition in Queensland is to support a crocodile cull, or at least have a conversation about it.

“Well we have had a conversation with Queenslanders about it and they don't support a cull.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s recent public findings indicated 72 per cent of respondents supported removing large or dangerous crocs from urban areas such as in Cairns but very limited support for the widespread removal of crocodiles.

“I’m calling on the Member for Clayfield to confirm whether the LNP is for a cull, how they will do it, and what science they have based their policy on. Or I call on him to finally grow a spine, and rule out a cull,” Dr Miles said.

President of the Queensland Crocodile Conservation and Protection Society, Dean Adermann, accused the LNP of scare-mongering.

“Culling is a dangerous con job. It potentially gives people a false sense of security,” said Mr Adermann.

“Public education will always be paramount, and regardless of any future changes to crocodile management policy, the key message will always be that no waterway should ever be considered to be free of crocodiles in croc country”. 

Dr Laurence Taplin, a key advisor to EHP on its Croc Monitoring Program, said that decisions on crocodile management should be based on science, not anecdotal claims.

“There have been no systematic crocodile surveys conducted in Queensland for over a decade, so soundly-based facts about the status of our crocodile population are lacking,’’ said Cairns-based Dr Taplin, who conducted the first State-wide croc surveys for QNPWS in the mid to late 1980s.

"The current debate echoes similar controversies in the late 1980s and the science we did back then showed clearly there was a great gulf between anecdotal claims of exploding crocodile populations around Queensland and the reality on the ground.

“Sound management takes a science based approach – and that is what the Queensland Government is doing with its surveys and its crocodile management program,’ he said.

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the Palaszczuk Government had bolstered the crocodile management program, made staff permanent, invested an additional $5.8 million, and funded a multi-year population study to make sure its approach is informed by science.

“So far this year (17 November), 46 crocs have been removed from the Cairns Regional Council area,” Mr Crawford said.

“We are also reviewing our public education messages and signage to see whether improvements could be made to the current CrocWise approach,” he said.

ENDS

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