Crocodile Study In Queensland's Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve To Assess Climate Change Impact

ABC News - Matt Watson

A crocodile close to 4.6 metres long was captured during the latest research trip. (Supplied: Ben Beaden/Australia Zoo)

 Bindi, Robert and Terri Irwin have joined Queensland scientists tracking 150 saltwater crocodiles from Cape York's Wenlock River to try and determine the impact of climate change on the animals and reduce the number of attacks on humans.
The annual crocodile research trip takes place in the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in August.
The 2016 expedition captured 23 crocodiles, 11 of which were added to the research program.
The University of Queensland's Professor of Zoology, Craig Franklin, said 150 crocodiles in the Wenlock River had been tagged since 2008.

Bindi Irwin and Professor Craig Franklin in Cape York. (Supplied: Ben Beaden/Australia Zoo)

 Professor Franklin said the data would give scientists an understanding of the types of thermal environments crocodiles liked to live in.

"They do have a preferred temperature range and if it gets too warm for them up top, they may move further south to cooler waters," he said.

During their latest trip, a crocodile tagged in 2008 was recaptured and retagged with an acoustic tag, which lasts 10 years.
"We're going to be tracking that one individual animal for 18 years," Professor Franklin said.
"It was a big animal, definitely one of the alpha males in the river system.
"It had grown by about 18 centimetres [since 2008] and it was close to 4.6 metres long."
Professor Franklin said the acoustic tag was implanted in the crocodile, underneath its left forelimb, during a minor surgical procedure.
"It sends out like a morse code and we have listening stations along the Wenlock River so when it swims past, it tells us the animals in that location," he said.
"It also tells us what the body temperature is of that animal.

Researchers are now tracking 150 crocodiles. (Supplied: Ben Beaden/Australia Zoo)

"In the times of climate change and global warming, what's going to be fascinating to see is how it will influence the biology of crocodiles."

Living 'safely' with crocodiles a study aim
Professor Franklin said some crocodiles were fitted with satellite transmitters that monitor the diving behaviour.
"So far we have five million recordings of body temperature from the 150 animals and also their location data," he said.
"From their behaviour, to their movement patterns, to their thermal physiology."
Professor Franklin said the data was important in predicting the movements and range of crocodiles as the planet warmed up.

"We would like to educate people more broadly about living alongside crocodiles safely," he said.

"The information we're gaining definitely gives us an indication of what their behaviours are like and when it's best not to be in crocodile habitat or close to the water."

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