Controversial Crocodile Safety Measures Spark Environmental Concerns: Experts Warn of Potential Backlash

Share and Follow

The Queensland government says its new crocodile management plan will focus on prioritising public safety, yet environmentalists are urging the government to rethink the measures and say they may encourage risky behaviour.

It’s the first major update for managing crocs in almost a decade, and was developed through consultation with communities in the Far North and North regions of Queensland.

Member for Cook David Kempton said locals had long been calling for a management plan.

“I’ve backed our community’s call for tougher action on crocodiles and now that is being delivered,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Patrols will increase and removal zones will be expanded under the plan.

An environmental advocacy group has voiced concerns over the newly proposed plan, arguing that it deviates from both scientific advice and the community feedback gathered during the Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill hearing held earlier this year.

A crocodile on the muddy banks of a river

Saltwater crocodiles inhabit regions throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York Peninsula, the Torres Strait, and extend along the east coast to Rockhampton.

The bill was directed to the Health, Environment, and Innovation Committee in August. The committee concluded that no degree of culling or management could completely eliminate the risks posed by crocodiles. They emphasized that public safety is best ensured through education.

Queensland Opposition environment spokesperson Leanne Linard criticised the government over the report’s timeframe.

“The government has now had that draft plan for 12 months, and I note the minister has only today tabled the new plan,” she told ABC News.

“This approach gives a misleading sense of security and directly opposes the top scientific recommendations the government has received,” commented Cornish.

Will all crocodiles be removed in the listed zones?

In some areas, all crocodiles will be removed, while in others, only those which are two metres or larger, or show aggressive behaviour, will be removed.

The state government stated location, behaviour and size, as well as the type of zone the crocodile is sighted in, are key considerations when removing a crocodile, which is typically done by wildlife rangers.

The plan targets estuarine crocodiles, otherwise known as saltwater crocodiles, whose population has risen following hunting bans back in 1974, and are still listed as a vulnerable species in Queensland under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell said: “More patrols and expansion of removal areas will prioritise safety and strike the balance needed for crocodile management in Queensland.”

In 2024, the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) received 1,335 crocodile sighting reports and removed 93 problem crocodiles.

When a crocodile is removed from the wild, it’s generally rehomed in zoos or crocodile farms, according to DETSI.

Releasing a crocodile after capture doesn’t often happen, according to the department. This is because studies have shown they travel home, even if it’s hundreds of kilometres away, after being released somewhere away from people.

However, when it comes to removal, it may be more humane for the animal to be “humanely euthanised”, according to the new plan. Particularly in instances where “they would need to be transported long distances to a farm or zoo over rough roads”.

The plan will be reviewed every five years, as well as an annual feedback process with residents, stakeholders and local organisations.