Queensland proposal to remove more large crocodiles could raise risk of attacks, experts warn

The Queensland government said crocodile numbers had been slowly rising and it was conducting modelling to see what impact taking more animals out of the wild would have on the species.

Since 1975, there had been 47 crocodile attacks in the state, causing 16 deaths. The government said the rate of non-fatal attacks had been increasing.

Hunting until the late 1970s almost wiped out saltwater crocodiles, but subsequent protection had raised numbers to an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 in the state.

An independent review of the management of crocodiles this year said those removals had likely seen a fall in the average size of crocodiles along the populated coast.

Prof Craig Franklin, of the University of Queensland, runs one of the largest crocodile tracking studies in the world, but said he was not invited or consulted for the plan.

Crocodiles form stable social structures with dominant males maintaining territories and keeping the peace. Removing these larger animals could have unpredictable effects, Franklin said.

The Department of Environment and Science (DES) said genomic analysis and population modelling was under way to see how crocodiles might respond to more removals at different locations.

David White, the owner of Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruises, takes tourists along the Daintree River daily on an electric boat to spot crocodiles.

White said his opposition was not about protecting his business, as fewer crocodiles would make viewing them harder and his operation even more attractive to tourists.