Crocodiles are coming back to South East Queensland. It’s only a matter of time.

Water temperatures around Australia are at all-time highs. Water temperatures up to 35 degrees around Lizard Island, and about 2 degrees above normal summer averages generally.






Now Crocodiles are not new to the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast. According to the Brisbane Courier back in the early 1900’s one was caught measured a substantial 12 feet 7 inches long (3.83 metres) in the Loan River.





There have been several unconfirmed sightings in the Noosa River system, just recently a 2m crocodile was sighted in Noosa River. EPA (then known as National Parks and Wildlife) could not find any crocodile. No crocodiles have since been “officially” sighted this far south for a number of years, although one did turn up in the Mary River, near Maryborough, in 2012.




A 3.8m saltwater crocodile that has been eluding rangers for more than two years has been captured in the Mungar region of the Mary River - upstream from Maryborough.

Remember this is only 100kms from Noosa! Crocks can swim long distances and one recorded swimming 400kms in 20 odd days.

So next time you see that floating log kitesurfing…Take a second, or even third look, just to be safe.

So if you were thinking about taking a trip to the Sunshine Coast, or moving up here, think again - waaay too dangerous.

I did hear that Koalas are a natural repellent to giant lizards though

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[caption] The Sunshine Coast Moustache Contest is seeking out a new mascot for its annual event [/caption]

You should be alright around the mouths, they mostly hang on in the fresh water, or close to the fresh.
You will see them more now it's starting to get a little colder.

Surely in 1900 they were starting to get worried about global warming.
Its just a big cycle. (Tho we might be speeding it up a little)

Investigators have identified that there was 4 crocs released into the Mary River by some moron (they know who) about 20 years ago. They were brought down from up north as pets and got too big him - he then let them go in the local river, and apparently told EPA folk he thought they wouldn't survive. These crocs have markings which make them identifiable, which is how they traced them - They haven't migrated down.

When these pics were in the media, I was learning to kite and used the beach outside Eli Creek (other end of Hervey Bay from the Mary R mouth). While in knee to waste deep water, directly out from the creak, a bow wave was heading towards me at speed, first thing I thought of was those croc pictures, crapped myself and executed the perfect water start which at the time was rare. It turned out to be a big turtle but I needed new shorts!!

The EPA doesn't think they are breading due to temps and have been putting quite a lot of effort to trap them since the photos emerged in 2012. Last year one was recorded by surveillance cameras set up for monitoring endangered turtles just outside Tiaro, which is a long way up river. Thing that surprises me is there is no reports of stock loss, so there must be plenty of marine life for food there.

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harlie said...


The EPA doesn't think they are breading due to temps

Really, I find that hard to believe. Crocs constantly have to keep putting mud on the nests to cool them down. A heap of eggs were lost in cq this season from the heat.
Maybe they arnt breeding cause they are all boys/girls.

Makes you wonder why they don't go further then Gladstone. The temp isn't too different.

I have a theory about crocs and kites. When the crocks are small hey would get picked off by birds.
So when they see a 12m kite I recon it scares them. Much like when you fly over them with a chopper. But I guess the sound would scare them too.

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harlie said...


The EPA doesn't think they are breading due to temps

Really, I find that hard to believe. Crocs constantly have to keep putting mud on the nests to cool them down. A heap of eggs were lost in cq this season from the heat.
Maybe they arnt breeding cause they are all boys/girls.

Makes you wonder why they don't go further then Gladstone. The temp isn't too different.

I have a theory about crocs and kites. When the crocks are small hey would get picked off by birds.
So when they see a 12m kite I recon it scares them. Much like when you fly over them with a chopper. But I guess the sound would scare them too.

Check out this big dog

I only start to worry when they get over 20 foot.

Well if crocs are heading further south, so will the stingers (jellyfish).

I hope you guys have wetsuits!

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kemp90 said...

harlie said...


The EPA doesn't think they are breading due to temps

Really, I find that hard to believe. Crocs constantly have to keep putting mud on the nests to cool them down. A heap of eggs were lost in cq this season from the heat.
Maybe they arnt breeding cause they are all boys/girls.

Makes you wonder why they don't go further then Gladstone. The temp isn't too different.

I have a theory about crocs and kites. When the crocks are small hey would get picked off by birds.
So when they see a 12m kite I recon it scares them. Much like when you fly over them with a chopper. But I guess the sound would scare them too.

Where there's a willy there's a way.

The problem with the Sunny Coast is that the water is really murky, Crocs love murky water - add global warming

Thought the bull sharks were bad enough

It's not just the bull sharks mate. I caught a hammerhead in the river. About 1km from the mouth. In the mangroves north of the frying pan.

It wasn't massive, but it's still a hammerhead.

Woff, woof woof.... Wooooooof!

terrible kiting spot.. would not recommend

Lots of stories of croc called Hector that used to live in the Richmond river in Lismore. That's pretty far south.

Hector was real.

www.northernstar.com.au/news/hectors-place-in-lismore-lore/451856/

They say you shouldn't smile at crocodiles, but Northern Rivers residents began smiling as soon a crocodile turned up in the Wilsons River about 43 years ago - and one mention of Hector the Crocodile is still enough to get a grin from many.

I know he was real, my Dad grew up in Lismore ;) .

I remember wadding through neck hight water to get to the good yabbie banks in the Richmond river. Wouldn't catch me doing that now with all the Sharks around.

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kemp90 said..
I remember wadding through neck hight water to get to the good yabbie banks in the Richmond river. Wouldn't catch me doing that now with all the Sharks around.

I remember paddling the bar lots of days after school only to return in the dark with trawlers heading out...

Dont worry about noosa crocs they're all latte' sniffing esplanade posing shoulder hopping mal riders

That's pic is called a feeding frenze

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Underoath said...
It's not just the bull sharks mate. I caught a hammerhead in the river. About 1km from the mouth. In the mangroves north of the frying pan.

It wasn't massive, but it's still a hammerhead.

Is the hammerhead fear a joke? Or do they do bad things?

We kite with a few is all.

Hammerheads are one of the more aggressive kinds of shark, I believe. My parents were both divers and told me they are the nasty ones.

But only if they think you're laughing at their ridiculous heads

Not as aggressive as Bullsharks, but yeah right up there.

Sharks don't become a problem unless they get to about 3m.

The way there sharks jaws are designed, the Sharks won't eat large mammals untill they are approximately 3m long.

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ONYX said..

Sharks don't become a problem unless they get to about 3m.

The way there sharks jaws are designed, the Sharks won't eat large mammals untill they are approximately 3m long.

Really??
What evidence do you base that statement on?
You wouldn't be worried if a 2m white or bull started circling you?

Just like any large carnivorous animal, it would be best not to land on its head, grab one by the tail or laugh at a large hammerhead.

Otherwise people, please don't panic, your sick skills are way more deadly.

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ONYX said..
Not as aggressive as Bullsharks, but yeah right up there.

Sharks don't become a problem unless they get to about 3m.

The way there sharks jaws are designed, the Sharks won't eat large mammals untill they are approximately 3m long.

dont want to send this to heavy weather, but i always thought there jaws Evolved that way and weren't Designed hahahahaha

wither way i dont see 2m ones as life threatening but i still find them threatening a 3 m like you say on other hand i start to become pretty concerned for my life :D

now if only i was a large mammal

Looks like I was right on the money!

Reported Sunshine Coast crocodile sighting prompts installation of safety signs!

Crocodile warning signs have been erected on the Sunshine Coast today following a reported sighting earlier this week.

Wildlife officers are surveying Coolum Creek after a teenager reported seeing a crocodile when he was fishing on Monday.The teenager was fishing near the West Coolum boat ramp when he reportedly saw a 2-metre-long crocodile basking on the left bank of the creek.

The sighting was reported to the Sunshine Coast Council, and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) is investigating.

University of Queensland zoology professor Craig Franklin said crocodiles had recently been caught in the Mary River, about 250km north of Brisbane, and the Coolum Creek sighting must be taken seriously."We know crocodiles have occurred this far south for more than 100 years now," he said."They used to occur in the Brisbane River.

This incident needs to be investigated to see whether there's any signs of crocodile footprints."A night survey looking for eye shines would be the sensible approach."

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Loftywinds said..
Well if crocs are heading further south, so will the stingers (jellyfish).

I hope you guys have wetsuits!

www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes