Man-eater croc to be used for breeding: EPA
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Arthur Booker disappeared from the Endeavour River near Cooktown, north of Cairns, two weeks ago (ABC News)
Queensland's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says a large reptile that is believed to have killed a tourist in the state's far north will be taken to a crocodile farm for breeding purposes.
Arthur Booker disappeared from the Endeavour River near Cooktown, north of Cairns, two weeks ago and DNA tests are being conducted on human remains found inside the stomach of the 4.3 metre reptile.
EPA spokesman Michael Devery says the protected animal cannot be killed, released or displayed, so a breeding program is the only alternative.
"Any crocodile four metres or over is under the conservation plan an iconic crocodile, so it needs to go into a capped facility where it can be used in a way that benefits crocodile conservation," he said.
"However, the animal cannot be displayed, so it'll need to go to a facility where both those requirements can be met.
"Basically the way the procedure works is that the facilities that are most interested in the animal can make submissions and we'll consider them on the basis of meeting those two key criteria."
