TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN (Australia) 15 June 05 Research to sink his teeth into (Sarah Sullivan)
A ground-Breaking study into the movement of crocodiles near urban areas is under way in Townsville.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife's senior conservation officer Scott Sullivan is tracking the reptile through the Haughton and Bohle rivers as part of a James Cook University Masters project.
Mr Sullivan said his research would be telling, in terms of the behaviour of crocodiles near fishing spots.
"It will help us learn about their home range movements," he said.
"We may be able to determine things like, do crocodiles live near boat ramps?"
Mr Sullivan has worked with the deadly animal for 12 years and said he hoped his research would help people become more croc-wise.
"It will tell us what crocodiles are about and the public can use that knowledge to avoid interactions with them," he said.
"It will help us understand where they live."
The project is being conducted in association with broader QPWS projects and Mr Sullivan can't wait to sink his teeth into it.
It investigates the three-dimensional movement of crocodiles within close proximity to urban settings.
"I have absolutely no expectations," he said. "This sort of research has never been done before."
The research involves attaching radio transmitter bundles to the necks of crocodiles and tracking their movements using radio and satellite telemetry. The results are not expected to be published until 2008 but the public will be kept up-to-date with any significant discoveries
Research to sink his teeth into