Department of Environment and Science (DES) wildlife officers say they have received a report of a possible crocodile attack on a dog at Palm Cove Beach.
In a statement, the DES said the person reporting the incident said the dog had been on the beach and had run out of sight, never to be seen again.
The Department stressed the person making the report did not see a crocodile take the dog.
Even so it conducted a site assessment and erected recent crocodile warning signs at the estuary and passed the information on to DES crocodile contractors.
Since then inspectors had conducted a site inspection of the area in response to a report of a small crocodile in the estuarine lagoon behind Palm Cove Beach.
“DES does not promote the view that nothing can be done about a crocodile at Palm Cove, due to it being in its natural habitat,” the Department said.
“This area is designated as Zone B under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, which means that all crocodiles found are targeted for removal by DES contractors, regardless of the size or behaviour of the animal.”
It asked the public to report any crocodiles seen in the area as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, wildlife officers have humanely euthanised a small estuarine crocodile just off the headland near Anchor Bay, Lizard Island.
The crocodile was declared a ‘problem crocodile’ to be targeted for removal after it bit a man on the head and neck while he was snorkelling in Anchor Bay on 23 September.
