St Crispins crocodile captured in trap

Crocodiles

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The St Crispin’s Lake crocodile in its holding facility in Cairns. Image: Department of Environment and Science


Wildlife officers from the Department of Environment and Science (DES) removed a 2.8 metre crocodile on Sunday after it was captured in a trap at St Crispin’s Avenue.

According to a spokesperson from DES, the crocodile was captured on Saturday night in a trap that was baited and set on 6 September.

DES officers were alerted to the successful trapping by way of wireless camera technology.

The crocodile had been observed swimming around and basking on the lake’s banks and was declared a ‘problem crocodile’ under the department’s Nature Conservation (Estuarine Crocodile) Conservation Plan.

The crocodile is currently being held in a secure facility in Cairns, before being placed with a crocodile farm or zoo.

The spokesperson also reminded residents and visitors that Port Douglas is in known Croc Country and it is important everyone practises “CrocWise” behaviour.

  • Stay at least 5m from the water’s edge—crocodiles often hunt their prey at the water’s edge.
  • Dispose of your food and fish scraps in a bin—don’t leave food, fish scraps or bait near the water, around your camp site or at a boat ramp. Crocodiles will be attracted by an easy meal, and this puts subsequent visitors to the area at risk.
  • Do not feed crocodiles—it is illegal, dangerous, and teaches crocodiles to associate humans with food.
  • Be extra cautious at night, dusk and dawn when crocodiles are most active.
  • Do not use kayaks, paddleboards and other small craft in crocodile habitat areas. The smaller the vessel, the greater the risk—crocodiles have taken people from small vessels.
  • Stay well away from crocodile traps. Crocodile traps are designed to attract hungry crocodiles so avoid fishing and boating near them and never interfere with them. People who deliberately interfere with the operation of crocodile traps face potential penalties of over $15,000.
  • Dogs are attractive prey to crocodiles. Keep your pets on a lead and away from the water’s edge.
  • Watch out for crocodiles in unusual places after very high tides and heavy rains. Crocodiles can move further upstream during very high tides and periods of flooding and may move into new areas where they have not been seen before.

Crocodile sightings should be reported to DES as soon as possible by either:

  • using the QWildlife app (available free for iOS and Android devices)
  • accessing the sighting report online, or
  • calling 1300 130 372.

For more information visit the DES website.

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