The Department of Environment and Science (DES) says crocodile populations in Queensland are continuing to recover.
The DES said the reptiles were almost hunted to extinction before being protected in the 1970s.
Science Wildlife Program Coordinator at the DES, Matt Brien, who led a three-year Estuarine Crocodile Monitoring Program, said the latest survey showed the current estuarine crocodile population was estimated at between 20,000 to 30,000 non-hatchling animals.
“The population’s recovery has been relatively slow and highly variable across the ranges of species since the unregulated hunting of estuarine crocodiles for their skins was banned,” Dr Brien said.
“The average rate of population growth for the species across its range is 2.2 per cent per year and only 20 per cent of its population is found south of Cooktown.”
He said the Department’s survey showed the spatial distribution of crocodiles in Queensland had not changed and there was no evidence of any southward expansion.
“Due to the limited amount of suitable nesting habitat, the Queensland crocodile population is not expected to reach the size or density of that of the Northern Territory,” Dr Brien said.
“Although crocodile numbers have increased along Queensland’s east coast, the survey showed the average size of the animals has decreased.”
Dr Brien said the likely consequence of this was the Department’s crocodile management program, where crocodiles assessed as posing a threat to public safety were removed from the wild.
