- Man arrested after allegedly killing and dragging away a three-metre crocodile
- The 69-year-old removed the carcass from trap at a creek in Cairns, Queensland
- Authorities spotted the crocodile before it was removed and set up cameras
- He was arrested and charged after detectives found the carcass at his property
A man has been arrested after he was caught on surveillance footage allegedly killing a three-metre crocodile and dragging the carcass away in his car.
The 69-year-old was seen arriving at a creek in Deeral, south of Cairns in Far North Queensland, before removing the dead crocodile from a trap and tying it to his 4WD with a rope.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers first spotted the rotting freshwater crocodile stuck in the trap in Sorenson Creek and set up cameras to find the alleged perpetrator.
The 69-year-old was seen arriving at a creek in Deeral, south of Cairns in Far North Queensland, before removing the dead crocodile from a trap and tying it to his 4WD with a rope
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers first spotted the rotting freshwater crocodile stuck in the trap in Sorenson Creek (pictured) and set up cameras to find the alleged perpetrator
The damning vision shows the man meticulously attach a rope to the huge reptile which he then tied to the front of his car, dragging it roughly through the muddy bush.
Detectives executed a search warrant at a Deeral property on January 24 where they uncovered the crocodile carcass.
The man was charged with one count of taking a protected animal and is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on February 7.
DES wildlife management Director Lindsay Delzoppo said it was an offence to take a crocodile in Queensland without authority.
The damning vision shows the man meticulously attach a rope to the huge reptile which he then tied to the front of his car, dragging it roughly through the muddy bush
‘In Queensland, estuarine crocodiles are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the maximum penalty for the unlawful killing of a crocodile is $28,383.75,’ Mr Delzoppo said.
‘Crocodiles hold significant cultural and economic value for communities in northern and far north Queensland They also play an important ecological role as a predator at the top of the food chain.
‘DES takes wildlife offences like the unlawful taking of crocodiles seriously and members of the public are encouraged to report suspected incidents of wildlife-related crime to the department.’
The man was charged with one count of taking a protected animal and is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on February 7
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