Push to expand Mareeba croc-exclusion zone
FNQ wildlife
A Mareeba farmer has launched a petition calling for the removal of salt-water crocodiles from more parts of that region.
George Adil circulated the petition at last week’s FNQ Rotary Field Days event, and already has about 500 signatures.
He said some crocs had been moving into the Barron and Mitchell Rivers, including about 2km from his farm, as well as dams in the area.
Mr Adil wants more of Mareeba Shire to be declared “Zone F”, meaning crocs have to be immediately removed or culled by the State Government Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Department (DETSI).
The Mareeba Wetlands area is already classed as Zone F, but the petition is calling for the Mitchell River region from Mitchell Falls to the source, and the Barron River region from Barron Falls to the source, to be added.
A Mareeba Shire Council survey in 2020 found more than 20 saltwater crocodiles were living in the Lake Mitchell, Two Mile Creek and Quaids Dam area where crocodiles were not previously found.
The council, which has been calling on DETSI to remove them during the past five years, did not know exactly how they got there, but suspected they may have escaped from a crocodile farm.
Report any crocodile sightings to the QWildlife app, on the DETSI website, or on 1300 130 372 and always remember to stay CrocWise.
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