Crocodile sightings are not unusual in north Queensland waterways, but most people don't take a 'salty' home as a souvenir.
The Environment Department is investigating a fisherman after he caught a crocodile in a north Queensland dam and took it home.
The Department of Environment and Science (DES) says the man was night-fishing in his boat in the Peter Faust dam near Proserpine on Saturday, when he spotted the 1.7-metre saltwater crocodile.
In what might have been a snap decision, the man caught the reptile and took it home, where he later called DES to retrieve the animal.
No charges have been laid, but it is an offence to interfere with or harm a crocodile.
The crocodile has been retrieved from the man's home, and relocated to a zoo.
'Buy him a round of beer'
Owner of a Proserpine tackle shop and fishing charter company, Lindsay Dobe, said he had been aware of a crocodile in the dam since the start of the year.
"I gave [National Parks] the location that I saw it at, and I know they did have a couple of goes at finding it, but that was just before COVID hit," Mr Dobe said.
"I'm really glad that [someone] did — that they've caught it and removed it.
"I know they've probably broken a couple of rules doing it, but they certainly have my support and the support of the majority of the community."
The dam recently had a camping ground built, and Mr Dobe said the presence of a potentially dangerous crocodile was putting everyone on edge.
"No one wanted one [a crocodile] in there," he said.
"They've done us all a big favour, I reckon I'll buy him a round of beer."
Far from home
Owner and manager of the Whitsunday Crocodile Safari, Steve Watson, said while there sightings of the crocodile in the dam, the man-made dam is not a natural saltwater crocodile habitat.
"[The crocodile] is something that's been placed there, more than likely — it's not going to be able to have climbed up the wall [of the dam]," Mr Watson said.
"It would have needed a decent flood to have got him in there in the first place, so I think he's been popped in there as a bit of a joke or something."
Despite an estuarine crocodile being commonly known as a saltwater crocodile, Mr Watson said they can live in fresh or salt water.
While some locals have congratulated the fisherman for his efforts, others including the authorities and wildlife experts have strongly advised against the practice.
Daniel Bredl is a co-owner of Bredl's Wild Farm at Bloomsbury, the new home of the reptile.
"It's totally illegal, you're not allowed to catch a crocodile," Mr Bredl said.
"They're a lot stronger and a lot more full-on than what people may understand.
"The best thing you can do is ring up and complain. If you see a croc and you're concerned about it, ring the department and complain."
The crocodile, which Mr Bredl said was a healthy young male, will live out the rest of its natural life at his crocodile farm where he has rehomed around 15 problem crocodiles over the past few years.
