Michael Warren

Journalist

THE ONGOING debate about how to safely coexist with our saltwater friends has once again reached fever pitch after calls for a cull along Australia’s east coast were met with various degrees of disapproval.

Why is this relevant for Far North Queensland and the Douglas Shire? Because our region is choc full of the ancient species and there’s a passionate band of local supporters that thoroughly disagree about any move to immediately cull them.

An independent evaluation of Queensland’s current crocodile management plan was released last month.

Crocodile lovers both across the Douglas Shire and the State have taken to a change.org petition to voice their collective concern about recommendation number six which gives high priority “to the continuous cull of an undefined number of sub-adult and mature saltwater crocodiles along the east coast”.

Local resident Caroline Kane is one of many to have visited the petition to register a no vote against any potential cull.

“Killing all the Crocs over a certain size is not the way to undertake proper responsible croc management as proposed by the new croc management plan,” Ms Kane wrote to the 6000 members of the Port Douglas – Mossman Facebook Noticeboard.

“Removing crocs over a certain size only leaves all their territories open to younger, usually more aggressive crocs to move in, as many scientific studies have already shown.”

To date more than 2000 people have signed the petition to show their displeasure about any future culling.

To view the petition visit Change.org – Stop Queensland’s crocodile cull.