Two Crocodiles Removed From Queensland Rivers After 'Stalking' Local Animals
Two crocodiles were removed from the Herbert and Ross rivers in Queensland, Australia, around March 24, after lingering near houses and “stalking domestic and farmed animals,” officials said.
Footage released by the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DES) shows a 4.3-meter-long (14 ft) crocodile that wildlife officers said was caught in a gated trap on Sunday and collected on Monday.
The animal had had evaded wildlife officers for several months, local media reported.
“Wildlife officers investigate every sighting report, and when we observed the behaviour of the crocodile, we targeted it for removal from the wild," Senior Wildlife Officer Tony Frisby said.
A 3-meter-long (9.8 ft) crocodile was also removed from the Ross River in Townsville for similar reasons, said Frisby said. “People must understand that the removal of these crocodiles does not make the Herbert River or the Ross River safer," they said.
“The Townsville region is Croc Country, and people should by Crocwise by making sensible choices around waterways and avoiding complacency. People need to be aware that they are responsible for their own safety in Croc Country, and should expect crocodiles in all waterways, even if there are no signs there," he added.
The animals removed from the area will be placed in crocodile farms or zoos, the Queensland DES said. Credit: Queensland DES via Storyful
Video transcript
[CHATTER, BIRDS CHIRPING]
[ENGINE HUMMING]
- Yeah, OK.
- Yeah.
- Hello. Winch.
[MACHINE HUMMING]
- Whoa, whoa.
- Ho.
- [INAUDIBLE]
- No, let me get [INAUDIBLE].
- Yeah, he'll [INAUDIBLE]. Time?
- Yeah, let's go again.
[MACHINE HUMMING]
Whoa! [INAUDIBLE]
- [INAUDIBLE]
- [INAUDIBLE]
- Yeah.
- Just on the outside.
- Just down there. Yeah.
- Go?
- No.
- No.
- [INAUDIBLE]
- Yep.
- All right. [INAUDIBLE].
- [INAUDIBLE]. Keep going.
[MACHINE HUMMING]
Keep going. Keep going. Whoa!
- [INAUDIBLE]
- Yeah. Get going.
[MACHINE HUMMING]
[INAUDIBLE]. Ho!
- Whoa.
- [INAUDIBLE]
- Going in.
- He's got it. [INAUDIBLE] keep going.
[MACHINE HUMMING]
- [INAUDIBLE]
- Whoa.
- Whoa.
- Now, you've got to keep going.
[MACHINE HUMMING]
- [INAUDIBLE]
- Keep going.
[MACHINE HUMMING]
- How far do you [INAUDIBLE]?
- [INAUDIBLE]
- Stop! Whoa!
- [INAUDIBLE]
- How much more you got?
- About a meter.
- Got about a meter.
- I was going to say [INAUDIBLE].
- Yeah, keep going.
- Have you got a meter?
- No, I don't have a meter.
[GROWLING]
- [INAUDIBLE]
