Conservation fight: 'Crocs are not demons'

Recent crocodile killings amid an “exploding crocodile population” have reignited the debate about managing saltwater crocodile populations in Far North Queensland. Ruby Alexander reports.

After 25 years running crocodile tours, David White is horrified humans are turning to violence against the creatures that have become his life's passion.

 “Crocs aren't the demons everyone thinks they are,” says White who was devastated to find decapitated crocodile heads along the banks of the Daintree River.

An estuarine crocodile on the Daintree River. (Photo: Ruby Alexander)

Among the casualties was Lizzie, queen of the river and fan favourite, known for waving to the passing tour boats. 

“All that was left was the spine and the head, we could only see the under jaw. It's too upsetting to post and it's not how I want you to remember her," White wrote on social media.

Glenn Weston, a wildlife photographer and friend of White, says: “David sees these as more than animals, he sees them as family.”

Crocodiles spotted on David Whites Daintree River tour (Photo: Ruby Alexander)

White claims he received pictures of slaughtered crocodiles and a call from an unidentified man admitting to have killed several of the crocs. Those responsible are yet to be identified or charged.

The maximum penalty for the deliberate harm or killing of crocodiles in Queensland is $32,243.

Weston described White as “brave” for being a prominent face of the anti-croc cull movement. As tensions are rising White receives “plenty of hate for his public stance” says Weston.

The debate over crocodile management has intensified following a string of crocodile attacks in 2023, prompting calls from local groups like Katter's Australia Party party for a culling. 

The proposed Safer Waterways Bill “addresses the very real issue of Queensland’s exploding crocodile population.” and “aims to eliminate crocodiles from our waterways that pose a threat to human life”.

“The annual growth of Queensland crocodiles was only 2 per cent in 2023,” says Matt Cornish, the co-founder of C.R.O.C (Community Representation of Crocodiles).

Estuarine crocodiles were hunted to near extinction in the 1970s before hunting them became outlawed. Saltwater crocodiles are now classified as a vulnerable species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

The Katter party promotes a cull “while protecting crocs from becoming endangered as a species”. 

White believes a cull won't be effective “because it only takes one croc to ruin your day and unless we shoot them all, culling won’t work”.

White says implementing a culling program could lead to more attacks as a higher perceived water safety will encourage more people to swim in unsafe water. 

“Crocs can swim thousands of kilometres so they will keep coming, culls increase human complacency ... complacency is the killer. After a cull, we think it’s safe so we act like it’s safe, and we behave like it’s safe."

The Queensland government's crocodile management strategy focuses on routinely removing problem crocodiles and does not endorse widespread culling. Despite this people are taking the crocodile population management into their own hands.

Local fisherman Dylan Lesche told the ABC he had discovered 14 slaughtered crocs in just a matter of months.

White draws attention to examples, such as Indonesia, where fatalities from crocodile attacks are higher despite lower crocodile populations, advocating for education and coexistence over culling.

“It is education, not guns, that save lives."