Disturbing boat ramp images at tourist hotspot highlight 'idiotic' crocodile trend
Anyone caught luring crocodiles faces harsh new penalties after the practice was linked to the death of a tourist.
Locals are monitoring a world-famous crocodile river, after discovering clear signs of illegal activity around its banks. They’ve been collating disturbing images showing feral pigs being used to lure the predators near a popular Whitsundays boat ramp that’s used by tourists, local fishermen and kids.
Just two weeks ago, three dead piglets had been tied to the edge of the ramp on the Proserpine River. And earlier in the year adult carcasses were regularly photographed dumped in the same spot.
Former tour guide Mark Norman told Yahoo News the incidents have been “a worry” and he's monitoring the river for illegal activity. He’s concerned if feeding continues it could lure the river’s 4-metre-long dominant male away from his favourite spot around 1.5 kilometres up the river.
“Quite often you have to walk into the water to pull your boat up onto the trailer in a lot of cases, you know. So that's where you don't want a big crocodile lurking,” he said.
The luring of crocodiles reportedly continued on the Proserpine even after a tourist was killed in front of his family after falling into the Annan River, further north at Cooktown. The animal responsible for that attack had been regularly thrown food by fishermen and had learned to associate the area with free fish — and video showed an entire esky full of fish frames being dumped into the water just days earlier.
Responding to calls to crack down on crocodile feeding the Miles Government created a new offence on September 3 after outlawing the practice of discarding food around a public place, with offenders now facing an on-the-spot-fine of $483 or a maximum court-imposed fine of over $6,400. Harsher fines were announced for deliberately feeding crocodiles, with the court-imposed fine increasing from $6,452 to $26,615.
Trend sees crocodiles being lured to the boat ramp
Norman suspects the crocodiles were most likely being lured for fun and he doubts many of the rough-living locals were aware their antics are now illegal.
While there have always been isolated issues with dangerous behaviour around the river, he believes there's one key issue that's turned it into a trend. “They’re just being stupid, doing it for entertainment value. Ever since social media, there’s been a lot of people doing silly things with crocodiles,” he said.
Because feeding crocodiles causes them to lose their wariness of humans, it can result in them being deemed dangerous by the authorities and then shot as a public safety measure.
After Norman reported the crocodile feeding to DESI, wildlife officers travelled to the boat ramp and provided advice to locals, warning them not to dump fish frames or animals. Anyone with information has been asked to report it.
Will the new penalties stop people feeding crocodiles?
Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC), an advocacy group aligned with wildlife expert Bob Irwin, has welcomed the new penalties, announced by the Miles Government. But it said their true test will be enforcement.
“We hope to see public examples made to deter people with these new penalties to really crack down on the reckless behaviour we continue to see such as intentionally feeding crocodiles,” a spokesperson said.
Influencers facing $464,400 fines for copying Steve Irwin photo 'trend'
Turtles breach 'impenetrable' 4km fence with ingenious invention
Operation in Aussie forest to capture one of the world’s rarest mammals
CROC has urged the government to install CCTV cameras at known problem areas, and install enhanced warning signs.
“At the end of the day, we want to see everyone go home safe. Feeding crocodiles, whether intentional or not, will have a tragic outcome for someone unsuspecting. Enforcement and on-the-ground resourcing will be key to these new penalties having a positive effect.”
A separate new offence was created for knowingly remaining within close proximity to a crocodile that’s on land, with offenders facing an on-the-spot fine of $806 or a maximum court-imposed fine of $16,130.
The on-the-spot fine for interfering with a crocodile trap has also increased from $645 to $2,580. And the maximum court-imposed fine went from $19,356 to $26,615.
Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.
