Another croc scare; too many says community
Published Friday 8 July 2016
THE Port Douglas community is becoming increasingly alarmed at the threat of crocodiles with an unprecedented number of reports and sightings this week, and Four Mile Beach is not immune.
The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection’s (EHP) crocodile hotline has been ringing off the hook prompting a media release today specifically warning members of the public about the threat of crocs.
A saltwater crocodile, estimated to be between three-and-a-half and four-metres, gave 12-year-old Mossman High student Able Terry the fright of his life while he was skateboarding near the lake at St Crispins Avenue yesterday. He was near a footpath when he turned around and saw the massive reptile moving towards him. The area is a popular fishing spot for children.
“I was skating around and about to go over this little bridge and a guy stopped me and said to be careful of a big croc that was eating some fish,” Able explained.
“I kept on going a little bit further and turned around and the croc was climbing up towards me on the rocks. It was so big and it freaked me out.
“I’m going to tell my friends to find another spot to fish because it’s not safe there.”
It was one of four sightings reported to EHP this week, three of which involved separate crocodiles at the same lake.
Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club (PDSLSC) vice-president Michael Bolt believes it’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes at Four Mile Beach, with two sightings reported of a four-metre croc lurking close to swimmers at the main swimming area. The surf club believes it’s the same animal that was captured on film eating a turtle at the mouth of Dickson’s Inlet earlier this week, also reported on Newsport.
“We have reported it twice and on both occasions it was swimming in the main bathing area at Four Mile Beach, “ Bolt said.
“We have reported this to the EHP and on both occasions they have dismissed it as not being a crocodile of concern saying it was just doing what crocodiles do.
“Do we have to wait for somebody to be killed before we do something? It’s insane.”
It’s why Bolt and the PDSLSC are calling for a different approach to ‘crocodiles of concern’ in Port Douglas, believing any animal over three-metres should be immediately removed regardless of its behaviour.
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“We have thousands of visitors swimming at Four Mile Beach from down south, they’re not expecting crocodiles to pop up as they swim and nor should they,” he said.
“They are here with their kids and families to enjoy the water, but unfortunately as it stands they’re all at risk.
“It’s all well and good to have a CrocWise campaign but we need to remove all large crocodiles. As we saw by the tragedy at Thornton Beach a four-metre croc will swallow a human whole. When a crocodile is above three-metres everything is on the menu, including us.”
Under the current arrangement, Port Douglas is in Zone 3 which requires the EHP to record and investigate all crocodile sightings made by the public and to remove crocodiles of concern. A crocodile is only deemed a concern if it:
- Is a saltwater crocodile
- Has attacked, or is about to attack, or is behaving aggressively towards a person
- Is determined by the department to pose a note nit threat to human safety or wellbeing because of the crocs location or behaviour
- Has passed a crocodile prevention barrier and has attacked, or is about to attack, or is behaving aggressively towards, stock, working dogs or aquaculture fisheries resources.
The PDSLSC has voiced its angst to the Douglas Shire Council, who is currently working on a proposal inviting community consultation on the best way to deal with crocodiles.
Councillor Michael Kerr said the EHP had to walk a fine line when removing crocodiles due to the fact the one replacing it could be more dangerous.
“The way it has been explained to me is the EHP will access each animal on its past history,” Kerr said.
“And what they are finding is some of the bigger crocs still have memories of being shot at by humans, so they are actually more fearful and not causing as much trouble. It is the smaller crocs between two and three-and-a-half metres that are causing the most problem because they have no memory of being scared, and they are a lot more ambitious.
“If you remove a big croc then another will just replace it because crocs are so territorial. So the one replacing it might actually be more of a problem than the one already there.”
Kerr said the community had been encouraged to voice their opinion on a recent crocodile management review on Queensland Government’s website.
* Anyone with a croc sighting should contact the EHP on 1300 130 372. For more information about being CrocWise visit www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/crocodiles
Should more be done about crocodiles in Port Douglas? Have your say in the comments below.