A saltwater crocodile has been successfully captured and relocated after it was found inhabiting a recycled water storage dam at Bakers Creek (QLD) for the past six years.
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) officers undertook the operation to capture the 4.1m crocodile at the council facility.
The crocodile was then relocated to Koorana Crocodile Farm at Coowonga, east of Rockhampton.
Parks and Environment portfolio councillor, Theresa Morgan, said the reptile had started to pose a threat to people in the area near council’s Mackay South Water Recycling Facility.
“The crocodile has wandered between the recycled water storage dam and Bakers Creek for years without concern,” Cr Morgan said.
“However, recently it started to display territorial behaviour, approaching officers when they visited the storage facility.”
EHP wildlife officers were called in to capture and relocate the croc.
Council’s Water and Waste Services chief operating officer David Brooker said EHP officers reported that the crocodile appeared in a “healthy and strong condition” at the time of capture.
“The EHP team harpooned the crocodile and spent considerable time to secure the animal safely and humanely,” Mr Brooker said.
“Considering this is the first crocodile capture they’ve conducted in Mackay since the Gooseponds crocodile in 2008, the process went off without a hitch,” he said.
“EHP officers said it was a textbook retrieval.”
