TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN (Australia) 24 January 07 Croc trap vandals (Jessica Johnston)
Crocodile trap tamperers put their own lives at risk to move a trap set for a 4m reptile spotted at a popular Giru boat ramp.
Anchors were ripped off the trap, rendering it useless, after it was dragged about 200m toward the river bank.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service environmental services manager Dr Mark Read condemned the dangerous act.
He said the vandals had not only risked their own lives, but had also put the public at risk with their foolish act. "Obviously, there was the chance that the crocodile was actually near, or in the trap, so they were putting themselves at risk," Dr Read said. "The trap was set because it was in the best interest for public safety.
"Now, because of the human interference, it can't do its job."
The trap was deployed in the Haughton River last week, after the huge reptile was seen sunning itself on the Cromarty Landing boat ramp.
Dr Read said QPWS staff has decided to remove the crocodile as it posed an unacceptable risk to the public. But the trap was damaged when Dr Read went to check it yesterday morning.
He said it was likely the vandals had used a boat to drag the trap about 200m to the base of the boat ramp some time on Monday.
Dr Read said the specialised trap was worth about $5000 and the vandals had caused significant damage.
"It would probably be a couple of hundred dollars of damage."
Dr Read said this was not the first time crocodile traps had been tampered with in North Queensland.
"It certainly has happened before.
"Sometimes we have been met by people in the area who have very strong opinions about whether a crocodile should be removed."
Dr Read said he understood many local residents were passionate about the well-being of crocodiles in their area, but said that was no excuse for causing criminal damage.
Dr Read said the trap would be repaired and redeployed to a similar location on Thursday.
If the crocodile evades capture, Dr Read said QPWS staff would re-evaluate the situation next week.
Anyone with information about the croc trap tampering should contact Giru police on 4782 9180.
http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,21108288%5E14787,00.html
TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN (Australia) 25 January 07 'We did not do it' (Jessica Johnston)
No one moved the croc trap.
Ask angry Giru residents and that's what they will tell you.
They hit back yesterday at a wildlife officer's claim that a croc trap tamperer is on the loose.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service environmental service manager Dr Mark Read this week accused vandals of moving a crocodile trap that was set at the Cromarty Landing boat ramp.
He said anchors broke off the specialised trap after it was dragged about 200m on Monday or early Tuesday.
But life-long Giru resident and Giru store owner Mick Parison yesterday lashed out at the claim, saying high tides had moved the trap with no human intervention.
"There's no one stupid enough to do that down here," Mr Parison said.
"Blaming vandals, that's an absolute load of crap. It was shifted by tides."
Mr Parison said there had been particularly high tides at the landing over the weekend and early this week.
He said high tide reached 3.56m at 11.20am on Monday, after a low tide of just .63 of a metre at 4.25am.
"To have that kind of run on the incoming tide, that is why it moved up the creek toward the boat ramp," Mr Parison said.
"That's a hell of a big run-off. If you're going to set a trap, put it back toward the bank, not right in the middle so it gets the bulk of the run.
"But you can't even anchor a boat there with tides like that, let alone a trap.
"There's a couple of big snags in there, full trees, we catch fish off it.
"Something hooked it up and ripped the anchors."
Mr Parison said locals had watched with humour the bungled attempts of wildlife staff as they attempted to deal with the reptile.
"My kids would be able to catch a croc better than them," Mr Parison said.
"First they tried to harpoon it, but it pulled out. It would have high-tailed it and be 20 miles away."
"Yesterday, they didn't even know how to launch the boat. It's a joke.
"Then to move the trap, they just hooked it to the boat and gunned it. When the boat got to the end of the anchor it pulled up."
But Dr Read yesterday maintained that the damaged trap was the work of vandals.
"Having an intimate knowledge of the anchoring system, I would say the tide theory is a big no-no," Dr Read said.
"We're talking about two big sand anchors, with 10m of high-density chain to each anchor. It's a substantial arrangement.
"It would take absolutely cyclonic conditions to be able to move it."
Dr Read hit back at claims that QPWS workers were inexperienced and not well trained.
"These guys are extensively experienced with crocodile work and well trained. They are trained in both boating and crocodile handling and they are very well equipped and resourced."
Dr Read said QPWS staff would pull the trap out of the water early this morning for repairs, before it was redeployed this afternoon.
http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,21114906%5E14787,00.html
Be croc-wise
