Conservation and management of crocodiles
Estuarine crocodiles are a protected species in Queensland, listed as vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act). Queensland’s crocodile management program takes a holistic approach that seeks to protect public safety and ensure the ongoing conservation of the species across its range.
The department’s Crocodile Management Program comprises:
- a public safety education program known as ‘Be Crocwise’
- a framework for the management of crocodiles in the wild (including the removal of ‘problem crocodiles’) based on a series of zones under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan)
- scientific research and monitoring that informs future crocodile management.
Crocodile sightings
In 2020, the department developed a free app, QWildlife, enabling the public to submit crocodile sightings to the department via their smartphones or tablets. They can also submit via the department’s website or by calling 1300 130 372. These sightings help keep track of the movements and behaviour of crocodiles. Departmental wildlife rangers investigate every sighting report received. In 2024 the department received 1,335 crocodile sighting reports and removed 93 problem crocodiles.
Research reports
Two recently published research reports provide important information to help improve estuarine crocodile conservation and public safety outcomes:
- Estuarine Crocodile Population Monitoring in Queensland (1979–2019) Technical Report (2022)
- The genetic structure and connectivity of the estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in Queensland 2018–2020 (2023).
A third report, Modelling population dynamics of estuarine crocodiles on Queensland’s northern populated east coast (2023), found that:
- the crocodile population between Cooktown and Ingham was not at risk of extinction in the foreseeable future unless there was a significant change in crocodile management practices
- continuing the current removal rate was likely to be a safe strategy from a species conservation standpoint and an effective public safety management strategy.
The report findings will help inform future approaches to estuarine crocodile management.