Queensland wildlife officers are investigating the deaths and beheadings of several large crocodiles near the remote town of Normanton, in what appears to be a growing problem in the state.
Rangers from the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (CLAC) have reported six crocodiles shot in the past two months, with some of the dead carcasses missing their heads.
One local fisher told the ABC he had found 14 dead crocodiles in the Normanton area, near the Gulf of Carpentaria coastline, in the past few months.
Lizzie, a 40-year-old female saltwater crocodile named after Queen Elizabeth II, was found decapitated on the banks of the Daintree River in May. Another croc was found decapitated at Cow Bay, 120km north of Cairns, in April.
There are an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 saltwater crocodiles in the state, where the species was almost wiped out until hunting was banned in the late 1970s.
Saltwater crocodiles are listed as vulnerable in the state and are protected, with a maximum penalty of $32,243 for deliberately harming or killing them.
A CLAC spokesman told the Guardian that killing large dominant crocodiles can disrupt the ecosystem.
He said: “The current situation in the Norman River is that there’s a large population of crocodiles and they’re maybe getting back to the population levels that were there before the hunting and skin trade. But they’re not doing anyone any harm.”
Some of the crocodiles seen by rangers had their heads removed, he said, adding there was an illegal market for crocodile parts, including heads.
He said wildlife officers were expected to arrive in Normanton on Sunday to join rangers and investigate the deaths.
Local fisher Dylan Leschke told the ABC the crocodiles he had found had been shot.
“They’re not a threat to our society,” he said. “These people are just getting trigger-happy and trying to shoot them under the radar.”
Experts have warned that removing large crocodiles can see younger and more aggressive males move in to areas as they compete for dominance.
Katter’s Australia party has been calling for a cull of the animals.
The Queensland government routinely removes about 50 large crocodiles a year when they are considered a threat to people.
A scientific modelling exercise is being carried out by the government to see what impact removing more crocodiles could have on the population.
The Department of Environment and Science said in a statement it had received multiple reports of dead crocodiles and was investigating.
“Wildlife officers will travel to Normanton and will work with local land and sea rangers to investigate the deaths.”
Saltwater crocodiles are protected under the state’s Nature Conservation Act.
The statement said: “It is unlawful to deliberately harm or kill crocodiles or be in possession of a deceased crocodile or parts of a deceased crocodile.”
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Queensland police.
