crocodiles

Lulled by the stream, he basked and slept,
"A perfect form in perfect rest." -
On hands and knees, we did our best
Across the sands we crawled and crept
Alas! For hopes so soon bereft
The dog rushed in and spoiled our shot
Be what we said remembered not
We d---d the dog and then we left.

This is one of some newer stories about the giant crocodile Howard, from the same area of Bamboo Creek. This time is not at all about killing a crocodile. Giant crocodile, Howard, has 10yo Elroy on his side — fighting for him to remain on creek bank ABC Far North / By Kristy Sexton-McGrath A 10-year-old boy has penned a letter pleading with authorities not to touch a giant crocodile that has been targeted for removal. The 4-metre crocodile, known as Howard, has long been part of the small community of Miallo, north of Cairns, in far north Queensland. But the State's Environment Department has now set a trap after a resident complained that Howard had been sunning himself on a creek bank that backs onto homes. Schoolboy Elroy Woods said he had written to the State's Environment Minister, Leeanne Enoch, asking for the trap to be removed. "I lived at Bamboo Creek Road for five years, right on Saltwater Creek," he wrote. "I loved watching Howard the crocodile sunbake and enjoyed seeing him from the bridge every afternoon." "I'm very saddened that Howard is being moved away from his home and I don't understand why a trap is there for Howard," he said in the letter. Not a problem croc Elroy is not the only resident to come to Howard's defence — resident and tourism operator David White said Howard had never been a problem. "I know sometimes crocodiles have to be removed because they stalk people and boats, but Howard's never done that," Mr White said. "This crocodile is in a saltwater creek where no one swims." He also said removing a big, dominant crocodile could see other, more aggressive crocodiles take over the area. Elroy's mother, Melissa Hills, said she hoped her son's letter would make it to Ms Enoch. "I was tidying up his room when I found it and we decided to post it," Ms Hills said. Elroy said he was "very careful" around crocodiles. "I always stand back at least 6 metres from the water's edge and don't go near the water at all when it is dark." Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-03/boy-pleads-for-minister-to...

It seems some angry crocodiles still hanging in the area. Story below: Aggressive 4.2m croc trapped in north Qld An aggressive 4.2-meter-long crocodile has been trapped at a popular fishing spot in north Queensland. Rangers have trapped a 4.2-meter crocodile spotted chasing another croc at a popular fishing spot in north Queensland. The huge reptile was one of two male crocodiles seen chasing a female crocodile near a boat ramp on a river south of Townsville. Rangers laid floating traps in the Haughton River last week and managed to catch the big croc on Tuesday. It will be relocated to a farm or zoo. State Environment Minister Andrew Powell urged boaties to take extreme caution or avoid the area until the other crocs have been trapped. "These are very large crocodiles and they are showing very aggressive behavior," he told reporters on Wednesday. Recently a Port Douglas canoe club, north of Cairns, relocated its headquarters from a croc-infested waterway to a nearby beach. The reptiles considered a threat to people in Townsville, Hinchinbrook, along the Cassowary Coast, and in the Cairns region are relocated. Under the state government's croc removal scheme 56 crocs have been trapped and relocated since early 2013. One of the biggest was a 4.5m croc caught in the Herbert River near Ingham in August last year. Concerns have been raised that the scheme doesn't work because other crocs may take over an area once one is removed. Source: www.sbs.com.au/news/article/aggressive-4-2m-croc-trapped-...