COURIER MAIL (Brisbane, Australia) 12 November 08 Killer crocodile returned to Lakefield National Park river (Patrick Lion)
A crocodile that killed a man in far north Queensland three years ago was returned to the river by the State Government - which said it had been shot.
The disclosure is the latest controversy over relocations of the dangerous reptiles.
Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara yesterday made the admission in the case involving Townsville man Barry Jefferies - who died at Lakefield National Park in 2005 - after a letter from a whistleblower was tabled by the Opposition in State Parliament. The letter, authored by a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service officer, alleged a "culture of secrecy, deceit and intimidation" within the agency covered up two human deaths after bungled croc relocations.
"Both fatal attacks were both closely connected with QPW's ill-conceived, unnecessary and poorly managed crocodile research/relocation management decisions," the officer wrote.
The case - and another involving the disappearance six weeks ago of war veteran Arthur Booker in Cooktown - were referred to the Crime and Misconduct Commission yesterday.
The Government denies the crocodile in the latest incident had been relocated. The revelations come amid a review of relocation policies following a furore last month when a crocodile was removed from Magnetic Island after being relocated to an area near the tourist mecca.
Mr Jefferies was dragged from a canoe at Lakefield National Park in August 2005. QPW later claimed the suspected crocodile had been shot dead.
However, the whistleblower's letter yesterday forced Mr McNamara to admit the wrong crocodile had been shot.
He admitted the offender, known as Midway, had been moved back to the national park before the attack after problems at Cape York's Kalpowar Station.
"That was at the request of the local traditional owners who said they wanted to return it to its existing home," he said. Mr McNamara said Mr Jefferies's widow requested Midway not be killed, prompting its journey to Australia Zoo.
The Sunshine Coast zoo yesterday denied the crocodile was displayed for tourists but the whistleblower said that while at the park it had "disgorged a dental plate that presumably belonged to Barry Jefferies".
Demanding a public inquiry, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the revelations showed the relocation programs had to be abandoned.
"These are absolutely goofy scientific experiments," he said.
The whistleblower also claimed material related to the cases had been destroyed or "lost" following the receipt Freedom of Information applications.
Killer crocodile returned to Lakefield National Park river