##MP##
Just south of the Yarrabah township, a group of Indigenous rangers has been monitoring a thriving population of saltwater crocodiles in a local estuary system.
It’s believed the Buddbadoo Creek and its Coral Sea mouth are pristine crocodile habitat.
Located on exclusive native title and Aboriginal Land, the area is held in Trust by the Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Prescribed Body Corporate (GMYPPBC) and situated within the Wet Tropics World Heritage listed area.
Rangers from the GMYPPBC have been monitoring the crocodile population for approximately 18 months.
##IAA1##
During low tide and peak croc spotting conditions, drone technology has helped them to find at least 12 estuarine crocodiles.
With a mix of male and female crocodiles in the area, the GMYPPBC Rangers are now going to monitor the reptile’s behaviour as they move into mating season next month.
GMY Ranger Coordinator John Wilson said the population has ‘equally surprised and shocked’ locals who regularly fish and camp in the area.
“We started flying the drone over the Buddbadoo Creek system to monitor flora and fauna, and started noticing there were a lot of large crocodiles,” he said.
“Our team felt it was really important to share this footage and images of the crocodiles with the local community members to promote croc awareness, as Buddabadoo is a popular spot for locals to hunt and fish.”
The GMYPPBC Rangers commenced operations in February 2021 and employed eleven long-term unemployed Yarrabah locals.
Today, the GMYPPBC Ranger team is certified in Conservation and Land Management and look after 8,200 hectares of exclusive native title determined Aboriginal Land on behalf of the Gunggandji and Mandingalbay Yidinji native title holders.
About 80 per cent of the Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji peoples' traditional Country is situated within the Wet Tropics World Heritage-listed area.
The Ranger program is currently funded by the Queensland Government’s Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program and Office of the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Wet Tropics Management Authority.
25-year-old Ranger and Gunggandji man Cadmas Sands told Tropic Now he loves all of the Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji (GMY) land management projects, but is ‘mad keen’ on the croc monitoring program.
“I started off as a trainee, one of the start-up GMY rangers, and I’m still here today,” he said.
“I love rocking up to work every day, working on and looking after Country – because our Country has looked after a lot of people for a long time.
##PQ##
“I’d like to be one of the first ones in Yarrabah to be a croc handler too.
“Crocodiles have been a part of our story for years, they’ve been here as long as we’ve been here.”
The rangers are now working on identifying and naming each of the crocodiles, while they’re also hoping to build on the monitoring program with a new boat – but only if it outsizes any Buddbadoo saltie.
*The GMYPPBC Rangers invited Tropic Now on country to share their important crocodile management program and have asked us to highlight that this area is Aboriginal Land and there are strict protocols regarding access to this area. Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji People and residents of the Yarrabah community are the only persons permitted to access this area. For all other persons access is prohibited, and permission is required to be obtained from the GMYPPBC prior to entry.
Main points
- Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji rangers have recorded 12 crocodiles in a small section of a Yarrabah estuary
- Yarrabah community members regularly fish and camp around the creek and have been warned of the salties' presence
- Being Aboriginal land, the general public is prohibited from visiting the area
