Coorooman Creek crocodile complacency continues
Issued: 7 Mar 2024
This crocodile was hanging around the boat ramp in December, and fishers need to change their behaviours.
Wildlife officers are warning that complacency in central Queensland croc country is very unsafe after witnessing disturbing behaviour from users of the Coorooman Creek boat ramp in Zilzie.
Senior Wildlife Officer Joshua Morris said on 4 March 2023, the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) was alerted to a recent social media video of a large crocodile in Coorooman Creek.
“The crocodile hadn’t been reported to us yet, but we conducted a vessel-based survey of the Coorooman Creek area and didn’t locate the large crocodile from the video,” Mr Morris said.
“However, we did observe a crocodile estimated to be 1.8 metres in length near the boat ramp, and this highlights the importance of every crocodile sighting being reported to the department.
“Our officers spoke to several people at the boat ramp who said they had recently seen the crocodile and disappointingly, none of them reported it to DESI.
“When wildlife officers observed the behaviour of the crocodile and nearby seagulls, it was obvious that the crocodile and the seagulls have learnt to associate the boat ramp with food.
“The crocodile remained in the area, and the seagulls appeared to be protecting their food source because they swooped and harassed the crocodile whenever it surfaced.
“Despite providing CrocWise education and informing people at the boat ramp about the nearby crocodile, the behaviour of some of them was extremely disappointing.
“We observed boaties entering the water to launch and retrieve vessels, fishers standing in waist-deep water to throw cast nets, and someone let their dog swim at the boat ramp.
“Bait and burley buckets were tethered on the edge of the pontoon and discarded bait was scattered across the pontoon instead of being placed into bins or taken home for disposal.
“Fishers told us they had seen people swimming beneath the pontoon to retrieve cast nets.
“This is not CrocWise behaviour, and people are risking serious injury or worse by being complacent like this in Croc Country.
“Locals and visitors are responsible for their own safety in Croc Country, and they should always make sensible choices around the water.”
DESI encourages anyone who spots a crocodile to report the sighting as soon as possible. This can be done by using the QWildlife app, completing a crocodile sighting report on the DESI website, or by calling 1300 130 372. The department investigates every crocodile sighting report.
People in the central Queensland area are urged to be CrocWise, which includes:
- Expect crocodiles in all waterways even if there is no warning sign
- Obey all warning signs – they are there to keep you safe
- Be aware crocs also swim in the ocean and be extra cautious around water at night
- Stay well away from crocodile traps – that includes when fishing and boating
- The smaller the vessel the greater the risk, so avoid using canoes and kayaks
- Stand back from the water’s edge when fishing and don’t wade in to retrieve a lure
- Camp at least 50 metres from the edge of the water
- Never leave food, fish scraps or bait near the water, at camp sites or at boat ramps
- Never provoke, harass, or feed crocs
- Always supervise children near the water and keep pets on a lead.