What is DERM doing to manage crocodiles in urban areas?
The Estuarine Crocodile Management Program 2007–2017 allows for the creation of Crocodile Urban Management Areas. These management areas cover centres of contiguous urban development within city centres excluding natural, unaltered waterways and foreshore areas. Within these areas, crocodiles over two metres in length that are found in artificial waterways or artificial habitat including golf courses, drainage canals and residential properties are targeted for immediate removal. Once captured, these crocodiles of concern are allocated to suitable wildlife exhibitor and wildlife farming licence holders. Maps of the Crocodile Urban Management Areas ( Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone) are available on the DERM website. It should be remembered that populated areas not within a Crocodile Urban Management Area, such as smaller regional towns, are still subject to the provisions of the crocodile conservation plan in regard to crocodiles of concern (i.e. estuarine crocodil
