Traditional owners in Queensland are calling for the return of a saltwater crocodile known as 'Old Faithful', arguing its capture last month was a 'wrongful arrest'. The crocodile, which measures over 4 metres and bears a distinctive white scar, was removed from Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park on 8 September by wildlife officers and is now held in a government facility in Cairns, awaiting transfer to a crocodile farm.
Alwyn Lyall, chair of the Rinyirru Aboriginal Corporation, wrote to Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell on Friday, stating that the removal was based on a 'flawed and outdated' test of the crocodile's behaviour. The department had cited 'concerning behaviour' observed near a popular fishing spot, but Lyall claims key information was withheld from traditional owners during consultation, and that the targeted crocodile may have been a smaller, emaciated individual.
Old Faithful gained fame in the 1990s when Steve Irwin 'hazed' the reptile to instil fear of humans. Lyall argues that the crocodile's current predicament stems from visitors feeding him for photographs, making him 'lazy' and reliant on handouts. He likened the department's 'simulated fishing test' to provoking wildlife, saying, 'If you throw a barramundi out on a piece of rope... you're gonna get that crocodile's attention sooner or later.'
The corporation has called for all crocodile traps in the park to be dismantled and removals halted until a better management plan is developed. Lyall warned that the department may be targeting three other large crocodiles in the area, and described the situation as 'a landmark' case for redefining consultation with First Nations people and crocodile management in Queensland.
