Original story by Chrissy Arthur, ABC News
A croc catcher is due in south-western Queensland this morning in an effort to move the freshwater crocodile living at Birdsville.
For several months, the crocodile has been living in a waterhole in the Diamantina River at Birdsville, up to 1,000 kilometres away from its usual habitat.
The freshwater crocodile is being removed from the Diamantina River near Birdsville and taken to Dreamworld. Photo: Sandra McShane via ABC News
It was first spotted by a tourist.
The Diamantina Shire Council says it has been working with the Queensland Environment Department on ways to move the reptile.
Al Mucci from the Dreamworld theme park says the croc will be taken back to the Gold Coast.
“We would house it while expressions of interest go out to the broader community, the broader zoo industry,” he said.
“The animal may not end up at Dreamworld but we will find a home for it.”
Happy outcome
Diamantina Mayor Geoff Morton says while Birdsville will lose a talking point, relocating it is the best option for residents and the crocodile.
“Birdsville will lose a conversation point that’s for sure,” he said.
“If you’d have told me even 12 months ago we were going to have one in the river, I would have wondered what you’d been drinking.
“It was our primary intention to humanely relocate it.
“It’s a win for everybody – it’s a win for the community, they’ve got exactly what they want.
“It’s a win for the crocodile – he is going to be looked after, probably better than he has been in his tiny shallow waterhole for the last couple of months.”
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