Wildlife authorities in North Queensland are urging residents and visitors to refrain from feeding crocodiles following the capture of a 4.5-metre saltwater crocodile near a boat ramp at Conway, close to the Proserpine River. The crocodile was trapped over the weekend due to concerns regarding its size and aggressive behaviour, which posed a potential threat to public safety. This reptile will be relocated to a crocodile farm or zoo.
There are ongoing investigations into the circumstances leading to the crocodile’s presence at the boat ramp. Officials discovered discarded fish frames and received reports about pig carcasses being tied to the ramp, suggesting someone may have intentionally lured the crocodile to the area.
Jane Burns, acting manager of northern wildlife and threatened species operations, highlights the risks associated with both deliberate and inadvertent feeding of these reptiles, as it alters their behaviour and encourages them to loiter in areas where they expect to find food. She stressed that the feeding of crocodiles is unnecessary and that both tourists and locals should exercise caution and make informed decisions to ensure their safety while minimising the chances of crocodiles being removed from their natural habitats.
Burns expressed disappointment at the behaviour observed, which not only jeopardises public safety but can also lead to dangerous encounters with crocodiles. Under the Nature Conservation (Estuarine Crocodile) Conservation Plan 2018, intentionally discarding items that may attract crocodiles constitutes an offence. Crocodiles can learn to associate certain locations with easy meals and the presence of people, which heightens the risk of attacks.
Overall, authorities are calling on the community to act responsibly around waterways in crocodile-prone regions to protect both themselves and the native wildlife.