Crocodile tracks on a beach at the Sarawak campaign grounds on Inskip Point. Photo: Qld Environment/Twitter (X)
Qld wildlife officers are continuing to investigate reports of a 2m-long crocodile near Rainbow Beach, 260km north of Brisbane.
The crocodile was reportedly sighted at the Sarawak West camping grounds at Inskip Point, near Rainbow Beach, on Monday.
This region is far outside its normal habitat, which ends around Gladstone.
Qld Environment, in a social media post, says wildlife officers are notifying people in camping areas near Inskip Point and installing warning signs.
The department says people in the area must remain vigilant around the water.
Stay away from the water’s edge, supervise children and pets closely, and use an esky or a similar object as a barrier between you and the water, the post says.
The animal is likely to be the same crocodile recently filmed on Coonarr Beach, near Bundaberg, the department says.
BUNDABERG
Wildlife officers last week investigated multiple sighting reports of a crocodile at Coonarr Beach, south of Bundaberg.
Officers used day and night beach and river patrols, vessel-based spotlighting surveys and a helicopter survey to search about 450km of coastline, creeks and rivers.
Senior wildlife officer Tony Frisby said the investigation was conducted by experienced officers during the Australia Day long weekend.
“We thank those members of the public for submitting crocodile sighting reports and providing video footage of the animal,” he says.
“The Wide Bay is considered atypical crocodile habitat. It is possible that the animal was flushed out of a river system in its normal range by high rainfall or due to a conflict with another crocodile.
“Crocodiles can swim up to 40km a day,” he explained.
“We are monitoring for further reports. I’d like to encourage everyone in the Wide Bay community to report whenever they believe they have seen a crocodile to the department.”
Crocodile sightings can be reported by using the QWildlife app, complete a crocodile sighting report online or by calling 1300 130 372. The department investigates every crocodile sighting report.
CROC COUNTRY
The department says the saltwater crocodile habitat (Croc Country) begins at Boyne River (south of Gladstone) and extends north to the Torres Strait and across the Cape York Peninsula and into Gulf Country.
Crocodiles can sometimes be found outside Croc Country but sightings are rare.
The animals can be found in freshwater and saltwater locations along the coast and up to hundreds of kilometres inland including rivers and creeks (tidal reaches and mouths), swamps, lagoons, waterholes, beaches, oceans and offshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait.
Saltwater crocodiles can live in fresh water but prefer a saltwater environment where there is more food, the department says.
