Locals kick up a stink over floating crocodile carcass
DAINTREE
THE Department of Environment and Heritage Protection will not remove a crocodile carcass in Cooper Creek despite the request of Daintree tourism operators.
The crocodile, estimated to be four metres in length, has been floating in the tourist hot spot near Thornton Beach for over a week.
It was initially feared the animal was killed by a human, however the EHP has dismissed the claim saying it died due to a natural territorial dispute with another croc.
“EHP wildlife officers are aware of a dead crocodile near the mouth of Coopers Creek at Thornton Beach,” an EHP spokesperson told Newsport.
“A member of the public reported the crocodile carcass to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection on Sunday, 5 November."
Cooper Creek is popular with visitors for its crocodile and wildlife spotting tours. Tourism operators have received several complaints about the smell and state of the carcass, with one left frustrated at ‘a lack of interest from EHP’.
“They (EHP) need to address this situation and not wait for this animal to sink,” one operator said, who preferred to remain anonymous.
“Eighteen months ago a woman chose to swim 100 metres from Cooper Creek and died as a result of a crocodile attack. As a result, an 80 year old croc and one younger female died at the hands of EHP.
“Now, we leave a croc floating in the creek from an unknown fatality with dozens of international travellers asking why? If twenty green turtles were found floating off Low Isles by a reef operator I am damn sure things would be different.”
EHP said they had no plans to remove the carcass.
"Thornton Beach is well within known crocodile country and members of the public are reminded to always be CrocWise in Croc Country," the spokesperson said.
New South Wales photographer Cindy Waldron, 46, was taken by a crocodile at Thornton Beach in May last during a night swim.
Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
* Readers are encouraged to use their full details below to ensure comment legitimacy. Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport or its staff. Comments containing unlawful, obscene, defamatory or abusive material will not be published.
