TORRES NEWS (Thursday Island, Australia) 25 January 07 Be croc-wise
There is an inherent risk in engaging in any type of water-based activity in crocodile habitat, especially activities like diving, snorkelling and spear fishing where the person has deliberately entered the water in crocodile habitat, according to Dr Mark Read, Manager Conservation Services, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern region
“Engaging in activities like spear fishing, where bleeding fish may struggle and thrash around as a stimulus to attract predators, is likely to increase the chances of attracting a crocodile or a shark to the area and stimulate an attack response.”
Dr Read said crocodiles were at the tail end of the breeding season at present. Most breeding occurs from November to early January, and during this time female crocodiles defend their nest and may be very aggressive, and male crocodiles appear to become more mobile and may be travelling around searching for potential mates.
“Based on the information provided to the EPA, this does appear to be an unprovoked attack. What is absent at present is any information on how much Mt Adolphus gets used and what type of activities occur there.
“If there is a lot of fishing, spear fishing, snorkelling and/or camping occurring there, there is the chance that inappropriate human behaviours may have modified the normal behaviour of the crocodile and reduced its wariness towards people.”
Dr Read says there is no information to indicate the crocodile was provoked.
“Based on analysis of crocodile attacks across northern Australia, there appear to be situations where crocodiles attack people either as a direct territorial response or to investigate an ‘unusual’ creature in the environment.
“With this particular situation, there is insufficient information at present to determine why this attack took place.”
Dr Read said Mr Tanswell should consider himself lucky, and this incident should act as a warning to others.
He urged the community to adhere to the ‘Croc-Wise’ messages provided by the EPA. “People should be aware that any activity that places people in the water in known crocodile habitat increases the risk of exposure to attack. People should remember to consider the risk of shark attack in almost any estuarine or marine environment where they are likely to encounter a crocodile.
“Based on anecdotal reports from commercial fishermen, crocodiles have been recorded at Mt Adolphus Island for many years. The EPA has not conducted any formal surveys of the island.
“He has no knowledge of any previous attacks in that area. Be Croc-Wise in croc country. Information is on the EPA website www.epa.qld.gov.au”
Be croc-wise