In 2016, the Department of Environment and Science initiated a three-year monitoring program to assess estuarine crocodile populations in Queensland and trends across the species’ range.
In 2017, the department implemented the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan to keep the public safe and ensure that this keystone species was protected.
The key findings from the monitoring program are now available on the department’s website.
In May 2021, the Department asked me to chair a multi-disciplinary, independent committee made up of crocodile and environmental experts. Our tasks were to evaluate the effectiveness of the department’s crocodile management, science, and community education programs, based on the results of the three-year monitoring program.
Our independent and voluntary Committee conducted a thorough evaluation between May and September 2021 and covered the three components of the Department’s crocodile management program.
Our committee was very impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the Queensland Government staff who are involved in the implementation of the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan.
The Department’s approach to crocodile management in Queensland is practical, robust, and fit for purpose.
Queensland should be very proud of the way the 2016-2019 crocodile monitoring program was conducted, the subsequent preparation of the excellent Estuarine Crocodile Population Monitoring in Queensland (1979-2019) Technical Report, and of the analysis that followed.
These achievements, along with the department’s innovative and practical scientific research program, are world-class. One Committee member noted significant improvements since an earlier review of the Department’s crocodile management program and observed that great credit is due the well qualified, dedicated, and close-knit operational team and its management, and to the Department for providing support.
To further strengthen the department’s approach, the Committee has identified some improvements that could be made to the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, and has made eight recommendations. For example, the Committee recommends the department establish and publicise a clear, structured processes regarding amendments to the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan. This would include a regular evaluation process, as well as an inclusive and documented system enabling any community group or individual to request modifications to, or minor reviews of the plan.
The Committee also recommends that in consultation with stakeholders, the Department consider annual removal of a modest number of crocodiles larger than two point four metres on the populated east coast, for several years, in addition to the problem crocodiles currently removed, to reduce overall numbers locally. This intervention could then be reviewed to examine its impact on community safety and crocodile populations.
Our committee noted the impact and success of the Be Crocwise community safety program as well as potential improvements that could be made. The Committee’s most important of nine recommendations regarding the Be Crocwise program is for the Department to: allocate funding to develop a Crocwise strategy, conduct an evaluation of the program, and to establish new and dedicated Crocwise positions.
Our committee has made a further five recommendations regarding research and monitoring of crocodiles.
Overall, the Committee found the science behind the departments’ crocodile monitoring program to be highly credible and of a world class standard. We fully support the methods used to conduct the crocodile surveys during the 2016–2019 monitoring program and have recommended a range of practical actions to increase the public’s confidence in the science behind the crocodile monitoring program and to continue effective long-term monitoring.