A four-metre-long saltwater crocodile has been found dead and decapitated on a sandbank near Cow Bay in far north Queensland, sparking a mystery that has confounded authorities and social media users alike. The headless reptile was discovered on 12 April on the edge of the Daintree Rainforest, about 120km north of Cairns.
Experts have dismissed theories that another animal, such as a great white shark or a larger crocodile, was responsible. Professor Grahame Webb, a zoologist and founder of Crocodylus Park in Darwin, said it was extremely unlikely a wild animal was the culprit. 'The one thing you can be sure of is that someone, not something, has taken its head off,' he said. Whether the crocodile was killed first or found dead can only be determined through an autopsy.
Local wildlife photographer and conservationist Tom Hayes examined the corpse hours after it was discovered and said it appeared obvious that a human had desecrated the animal. He noted that the head was 'obviously surgically removed from the base of the skull', unlike the tearing that would occur from another crocodile. Hayes observed cut marks consistent with a machete and missing nails and other parts, suggesting the head was kept as a trophy. 'Some people just genuinely hate crocodiles,' he said, adding that removing large crocodiles opens the door for younger, more aggressive males.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science investigated but could not determine the cause of death or decapitation due to the decomposed state of the carcass. Hayes criticised the lack of enforcement in remote areas, contrasting the response with a February incident where a 4.2-metre crocodile that attacked a man and ate his dog was tracked down and killed the next day. Amanda French from Community Representation of Crocodiles called for stricter fines and better management of humans in crocodile habitats, suggesting the decapitation was a reaction to recent crocodile incidents.
Professor Webb noted that crocodile populations in north Queensland are healthy and the isolated case is not a conservation concern. However, killing or desecrating crocodiles is illegal, with a maximum penalty of $27,425. The incident has stirred public debate about coexistence with the protected species.
