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THE AUSTRALIAN (Sydney) 18 July 07 'No explosion in QLD crocodile numbers' (Roberta Mancuso)
The Queensland Government has defended its refusal to cull crocodiles, saying a new study has found no evidence of an explosion in their numbers across the state.
The Government has been under pressure to limit crocodile numbers in the north as they haunt beaches, boat ramps and swimming holes.
But Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr today said the State Government study proved Queensland was not "in the grip of a crocodile explosion'', and used the findings to argue against the reintroduction of crocodile culling.
"To try to address public safety by attempting to remove or cull all crocodiles in populated areas is just plain dangerous,'' she said.
"If the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) removed all crocs near human habitat, not only would it have significant impacts on the ecosystem, but more importantly it would lull people into a false sense of security.''
Ms Nelson-Carr told a parliamentary estimates committee officers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) surveyed 47 rivers, covering 767km of Queensland's east coast from the Endeavour River in the north to the Burnett River in the south.
The survey, conducted at night over a three-week period in April and May, recorded a total of 289 crocodiles, including 112 hatchlings.
"What the QPWS found is overall there is no evidence of an increase in crocodile numbers in the region in the recent years,'' Ms Nelson-Carr said.
"In addition, there's also no evidence to suggest the crocodile range has actually expanded, with none of them being found south of the Fitzroy River.''
Croc sightings have closed tourist beaches around Cairns and Townsville, sparking demands for a cull.
Many believe a shooting ban more than 30 years ago has caused an over-population.
The estuarine crocodile is listed as a threatened species in Queensland.
They were hunted for their skins until they were protected by law in 1974.
Federal independent MP for Kennedy Bob Katter has urged the State Government to "shoot the bastards'' while Queensland Liberal senator Ian Macdonald has warned human lives were at risk.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the QPWS responded to all reported crocodile sightings and had removed 44 problem crocodiles over the past three years.
The Government is reviewing its Estuarine Crocodile Conservation Plan, which looks at the management of saltwater crocodiles in Queensland for the next 10 years, she said.
'No explosion in QLD crocodile numbers'

TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN (Australia) 20 July 07 Crocodile war (Daniel Bateman)
Crocodile experts have responded to the State Government's croc survey claiming the only way the reptiles' numbers would be declining would be if crocs were eating each other competing for food.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr released results from the department's 2007 survey of crocodiles on Wednesday amid claims of a population rise in urban areas.
The survey of 47 rivers and creeks was conducted by about 20 rangers along 767km of waterway from the Cape to Gladstone.
A total 289 saltwater crocs were counted, including 112 hatchlings.
The results would suggest crocodile numbers in the North are not exploding, they are in fact dwindling.
But Charles Darwin University crocodile expert Dr Corey Bradshaw was dubious about the survey's results.
"Overall the densities might be underestimated," Dr Bradshaw said.
"That's what generally happens when you do these surveys. You don't see all the animals. "I just find that extremely low and unbelievable."
The survey was carried out during a three week period during March and April this year, with rangers spotlighting for the reptiles at night.
But Dr Bradshaw questioned both the locations and timing of the survey.
"A lot of the breeding animals are in the swamps during the breeding season, but a lot of them stay there during the dry season as well," he said.
"It's estimated in the Territory that up to 60 per cent of all crocodiles are outside the main river channels.
"So if you're only going in the main river channels, which you generally do for a spotlight survey, you are probably bustling at estimating the total population size."
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife senior wildlife officer Tom Nichols said his department surveyed numbers of crocodiles in the State every year.
"The (Queensland survey) total seems like a very strange number to me," Mr Nichols said.
"We have a lot of smaller crocs now because of the fact numbers are getting up very high and all of the major river systems are established with larger male dominated crocs as it is.
"For younger crocs to come in they have to fight their way in, but they're not. They're moving on."
Michaela Johnston, business manager for former Queensland croc hunter `Crocodile' Mick Pitman, said the figures simply did not add up.
"Mick's been in the area for 30 years and to hear this, well it's just impossible," Ms Johnson.
"The only way crocodile numbers would be decreasing would be if the bigger crocs were eating the smaller ones."
Meanwhile, on the southern side of the Burdekin River, grazier Don Heatley said the amount of crocs near his property seemed to have increased dramatically during the past 50 years.
"I can't see how they can arrive at the conclusion that numbers have fallen," Mr Heatley said.
"I have lived here virtually all my life and in the last 10 years, their numbers are just growing steadily year by year."
He said it was getting to the point where his farm workers fixing irrigation pumps on the property were drawing straws to see who would have to venture near the creeks.
"If we've got a problem with a valve, someone's got to go and sort it out," Mr Heatley said.
"They're a bit scared of being taken by a croc. We're now considering using an excavator."
Hinchinbrook MP Andrew Cripps said regardless of the survey's results, the fact remained there had been an increase in the number of reports of close encounters with crocodiles in North Queensland.
"If Minister Nelson-Carr is going to use this survey as an excuse to put her head back in the sand in relation to our current crocodile management legislation, then she remains out of touch with the strong sentiments of the majority of North Queenslanders who recognise that changes need to be made to improve public safety," Mr Cripps said.
Crocodile war