Salt Water Crocs in the Whitsundays

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Is it true that the crocs that are reported in areas where humans think they "shouldn't be" are re-located to farms? So the Australian taxpayers are supporting what amounts to resorts for crocs? Oh, my goodness!

Probably remove the problem by allowing hunting again. Perhaps with quotas, and expensive licenses.

Sure, some crocs are needed, but I'd think the gov't would value its voting citizens higher.

If you mean do we pay for them to stay at the croc resort on an ongoing basis ? We don't as far as I know (it's been a while), but we may pay to have them trapped and taken away now. It used to be the farms would do it for free to get the stock, that's probably changed now.

[44'cruisingcat]

Yes, farms are resorts for crocs just as they are for cows, sheep, chickens etc...

[Dave_S]

They just don't get the beds.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

If you mean do we pay for them to stay at the croc resort on an ongoing basis ? We don't as far as I know (it's been a while), but we may pay to have them trapped and taken away now. It used to be the farms would do it for free to get the stock, that's probably changed now.

Occasionally someone publicly suggests that the big ones be marketed as trophy animals to hunters. The resulting outcry from the urban rabble who don't have to live with the damned things is ferocious "YOU WANT TO MURDER OUR CUDDLY LITTLE CROCKS WITH A GUN"

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Occasionally someone publicly suggests that the big ones be marketed as trophy animals to hunters. The resulting outcry from the urban rabble who don't have to live with the damned things is ferocious "YOU WANT TO MURDER OUR CUDDLY LITTLE CROCKS WITH A GUN"

In the croc farms, crocs that aren't used as breeding stock end up as handbags.

[Hasbeen]

In 10 years running tourist boats in the Whitsundays, & another couple cruising the area, neither I or any of my skippers ever saw a crock. Of course that might just mean they avoid heavily traversed areas.


We did get one in the Burrum River, a few hundred kilometres south. The local cops went round asking people to report any evidence of it,


Fortunately the smart bloke who did find it, dully reported where to find the body. As he said, "there won't be any crocks living in my river, well at least not for long".

[Jim Cate]

Just went ashore at the junction of the Mary and Susan rivers this arvo. They have put in a really nice floating pontoon and refurbed the ramp, so it is now cruiser friendly.

And there, along with the inevitable "don't have fun" signs, there was a crock warning, stating that they are often seen in this area, ie Harvey Bay. The sign ended by saying "your safety is our concern, but YOUR responsibility". For a bureaucratic pronouncement, that actually made sense!

Those ugly buggers scare me (crocks, not bureaucrats) much more than sharks do for some reason. They are both peak predators, and have survived since way back when, but crocks just look, well, scary!

Jim

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Just went ashore at the junction of the Mary and Susan rivers this arvo. They have put in a really nice floating pontoon and refurbed the ramp, so it is now cruiser friendly.

And there, along with the inevitable "don't have fun" signs, there was a crock warning, stating that they are often seen in this area, ie Harvey Bay. The sign ended by saying "your safety is our concern, but YOUR responsibility". For a bureaucratic pronouncement, that actually made sense!

Those ugly buggers scare me (crocks, not bureaucrats) much more than sharks do for some reason. They are both peak predators, and have survived since way back when, but crocks just look, well, scary!

Jim

They deserve more respect than they get. They actively hunt people, they are not just opportunistic. We should not be feeding them from tourist boats, if not allowed to shoot them we should be hitting them with cattle prodders or similar.

We used to go out and camp on the beach near The Wildman River NT near an old guy and his familys camp. We would buy the rum and he used to tell us some stories and his sons would show us around.

They used to hunt croc's for the skins from canoes with torches. They would shoot them with a 22 through the snout so they couldn't submerge, then harpoon them with straightened out shark fishing hooks tied to line. Then jump in with them and try to drag them to shore. All with Dolphin torches.

He told us of lots of injuries and two deaths. One while hunting and one, a woman down on the waters edge, the croc had been hiding in the bushes on top of the bank and knocked her into the water as it ran passed.

[stillbuilding]

Thanks for the info re the pontoon Jim.
Any idea of available depth at the pontoon?

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Just went ashore at the junction of the Mary and Susan rivers this arvo. They have put in a really nice floating pontoon and refurbed the ramp, so it is now cruiser friendly.


Jim

That's where we launched our boat!

Unfortunately the sandflies can be fierce on the western side of the peninsula, and the anchorage can be difficult in big tides, especially combined with strong winds.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by stillbuilding

Thanks for the info re the pontoon Jim.
Any idea of available depth at the pontoon?

Sorry, not at this time. If I get chance, I'll take a lead line over and check it.

Jim

[jmschmidt]

I chartered in the Whitsundays (Moorings when they were operating). The briefing didn't mention anything about of salties but now that you do I suggest you bring it up. I will too next time I'm there.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by stillbuilding

Thanks for the info re the pontoon Jim.
Any idea of available depth at the pontoon?

Well, whaddya know? over 6 m at low water springs alongside the outer edge of the pontoon. I'm surprised! And seems like good depths on the approach, too.

Jim

[stillbuilding]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Well, whaddya know? over 6 m at low water springs alongside the outer edge of the pontoon. I'm surprised! And seems like good depths on the approach, too.



Jim

That will do nicely. Thanks for going to the trouble Jim.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Well, whaddya know? over 6 m at low water springs alongside the outer edge of the pontoon. I'm surprised! And seems like good depths on the approach, too.

Jim

I'd like to add that we saw two sailboats aground. After you pass the green on the Susan R. side, past the pontoon, there is a string of three red marks. The first sailboat, Supergoose, has dragged her mooring, and was well up on the bank between the 2nd and 3rd reds. The other, a smaller boat, had also dragged her mooring, and is on the south bank past the green after the 3 reds; her mast is broken, and she has been there some time.

Ann