Crocodile attack at Lizard Island

A diver has escaped from the jaws of a 1.5m-2m crocodile at Lizard Island, which lies 50 nautical miles north east of Cooktown, but it’s not the first croc attack on the oceanic island.

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection said the crocodile attacked the man on the afternoon of Sunday (April 23, 2017) while he was snorkelling off the beach near Watson Creek Inlet.

The ABC reported that the man suffered minor cuts and abrasions to his head and was treated on the island, which lies some 18nm off
Cape Flattery on mainland Australia.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPWS) officers were heading to Lizard Island to search for and remove the offending saltwater croc (crocodylus porosus).

LIZARD ISLAND CROCS
In 2005, QPWS removed the 1.7m croc in the photo accompanying this story from Lizard Island. The imprint of a 1.5m croc also in the above photo libary was from Watsons Bay in May, 2015.

A construction worker was also attacked by a 2.5m long saltwater crocodile while snorkelling at night in the popular Lizard Island anchorage of Watsons Bay back in December 2015.

Game fishermen who frequent the Marlin Bar on the island often recount croc tales from Lizard, which takes its name from the large lace monitors loping about the place, although sharks are far more common in the waters here.

Historically, the croc encounters were said to occur on the less popular western and south western side of the island. But crocs have moved into popular Watsons Bay, which has a camp ground and moorings, in recent times.

The Department of
Environment and Heritage Protection has issued a statement saying: "the
waters surrounding Lizard Island are well within known crocodile habitat
and permanent crocodile warning signs are located within the town and
its environs."

CALL FOR CULL
A recent spate of croc attacks across North Queensland has sparked a call for a cull that was backed by comments from Minister for Environment.

A 35-year-old spearo was killed by a crocodile off Palmer Point near Innisfail, south of Cairns, last month (March 2017).

Not even a day later, an 18yo was bitten on the arm by a large crocodile in the Johnstone River at Innisfail.

Last year, a 46-year-old tourist was killed by a crocodile in the Daintree.

Lizard Island is popular with divers and is home to the Lizard Island Research Station, which does a lot of diving for coral reef research.

Be aware that crocodiles can turn up anywhere in croc country, including on offshore islands and cays in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait.

To date, the croc attacks on Lizard Island have resulted in minor wounds with potentially greater damage to the tourism on the island.

More at the National Park page About Lizard Island.

Photo Credit: Australian Museum, Lizard Island Field Guide.