Police confirm human remains found inside crocodile during search for missing grandma

Police have confirmed there were human remains inside a saltwater crocodile examined in the search for a missing Queensland grandmother.

Anne Cameron, 79, was last seen near an aged care facility at Craiglie, south of Port Douglas, last Tuesday and is believed to have become disorientated on a walk and wandered into dense bush.

In the search, police removed a 4.3 metre estuarine crocodile to be examined by a specialist and on Tuesday, confirmed human remains were located inside.

The investigations are continuing and officers are preparing a report for the Coroner.

On Friday, police confirmed remains found at the creek were human and a walking stick bearing Ms Cameron's name and other items were found nearby.

Acting Inspector Ed Lukin said forensic tests were still to be completed but it was "highly likely" the remains belonged to Ms Cameron because no one else had been reported missing from the area.

Wildlife officers and police expanded their search to Mowbray River after failing to find the crocodile during a thorough patrol and aerial surveys of the 2.3km Craiglie water system during the weekend.

Department of Environment and Heritage Protection wildlife director Michael Joyce said the reptiles often travel between areas using the ocean as a "crocodile highway", which made identification difficult.

Pig carcasses were rigged into floating and land traps to catch the animal.

Ms Cameron's death has prompted Katter's Australian Party to renew calls for more stringent management of crocodiles, including culling.