Department of Environment, Science and Innovation wildlife experts have slammed anglers feeding fish frames to saltwater crocodiles, including at the location a 40-year-old Newcastle man was fatally attacked on the Annan River on 3 August. Photo: Facebook.
Video footage being shared on social media showing a large saltwater crocodile being fed fish frames at the Annan River location a 40-year-old New South Wales man was fatally attacked on 3 August has been slammed by wildlife experts as behaviour that could cost another life.
The footage shows an unidentified man deliberately feeding a reptile at Crocodile Bend, about seven kilometres south of Cooktown, while tourists watch and question him about how often he throws fish frames into the river.
The location is the same spot at which a 4.9-metre crocodile killed Newcastle doctor Dr David Hogbin after he slipped down the steep, unstable bank 10 days ago.
At a press conference on 5 August, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation senior conservation officer Daniel Guymer criticised the footage and said it would be investigated with a view to potentially prosecuting the man shown throwing the fish frames to the crocodile.
“The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation is aware of the video circulating social media of potentially some individuals feeding crocodiles at a location which appears to be consistent with the location of interest here,” he told journalists.
“It is of course very, very concerning behaviour; it’s very risky and it’s very reckless, and it is actually an offence.
“Any information and evidence in relation to alleged illegal activity, such as the unlawful feeding of a crocodile at that location, they will be investigated by our wildlife officers.”
Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the current penalty for deliberately feeding a crocodile is $6,452.
Mr Guymer said saltwater crocodiles were apex predators with the capacity to modify their hunting methods based on interactions with humans.
“Crocodiles, they do pick up on food-associated events – people feeding the crocodile or leaving scraps at a boat ramp,” he explained.
“If people are feeding this animal, or feeding crocodiles in general at another locations, it will encourage that animal to stay in that area and that will, of course, present a safety risk to any individuals who attend that location after.”
One Cooktown fisherman, who asked not to be named, said Crocodile Bend was a well-known unofficial feeding spot for the reptiles and urged other anglers to consider the consequences of their actions.
“You’ve got locals and tourists throwing who knows how many frames into the water there [at Crocodile Bend] because everyone knows it’s probably the guaranteed spot close to Cooktown to see a croc,” they said.
“Stop feeding the bloody things so you can say you’ve seen one or get videos for your social media; they’re dangerous animals, not entertainment.
“Crocs are part of life up here on the Cape but the actions of those idiots feeding them week after week at that part of the river probably contributed to the death of that poor bloke.
“It’s something horrible his family have to live with for the rest of their lives, so I hope people think about that before they toss the next frame into the water.”
Senior conservation officer Daniel Guymer tells media on 5 August video footage circulating on social media showing fish frames being fed to a large saltwater crocodile at Crocodile Bend on the Annan River as “very, very concerning behaviour”. Photo: Supplied (QPS).
