Focus on crocs at free eco forum

A researcher studying the movement, behaviour and diet of estuarine crocodiles will share her knowledge at a free eco forum this week.

Wildlife ecology researcher and The University of Queensland PhD candidate Kaitlin Barham is the keynote speaker at the eighth ‘Talking About’ eco forum, a collaboration between Rotary -ESRAG, REF Environmental Forum and UQ researchers.

She was one of a number of researchers who analysed 15 years of data from sensors and trackers on 203 wild crocodiles in the Wenlock and Ducie rivers at Cape York Peninsula.

Crocodiles in northern Australia are heating up as the climate warms, with higher body temperatures changing their behaviour.

Climate change is pushing them outside their comfort zone, and there may be a limit to how much their natural cooling behaviours can help them beat the heat.

The Talking About Crocodiles eco forum will be held on June 19 from 7-9pm at Deception Bay Environmental Hub, 7 Joseph Cres, Deception Bay.

For more information, head to the website.

In January 2023, a ‘sighting’ of a crocodile at North Stradbroke Island was reported by a traditional owner who operates an eco-tourism business on the island.

At the time, Bond University Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Moreton Daily fishing expert Daryl McPhee said it was ‘feasible’ that a crocodile could find its way into Moreton Bay.

“A crocodile was found in the Logan River in 1905. There are also old historical reports further south of Moreton Bay in the Tweed River and in rivers of northern NSW. Such sightings are extremely rare of course,” he said.

“Can crocodiles successfully establish a population in Moreton Bay over the next couple of decades? No. The temperature is not sufficiently high enough throughout the year to maintain populations.”