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There are an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 saltwater crocodiles in the state, where the species was almost wiped out until hunting was banned in the late 1970s. Saltwater crocodiles are listed as vulnerable in the state and are protected, with a maximum penalty of $32,243 for deliberately harming or killing them.He said: “The current situation in the Norman River is that there’s a large population of crocodiles and they’re maybe getting back to the population levels that were there before the hunting and skin trade. But they’re not doing anyone any harm.”
Some of the crocodiles seen by rangers had their heads removed, he said, adding there was an illegal market for crocodile parts, including heads. He said wildlife officers were expected to arrive in Normanton on Sunday to join rangers and investigate the deaths.“They’re not a threat to our society,” he said. “These people are just getting trigger-happy and trying to shoot them under the radar.”