Publication:Navy Annual 2005/HMAS CAIRNS - Welcomes all Visitors
BY MR BERNARD O'CONNOR, COMMANDING OFFICER'S SECRETARY, HMAS CAIRNS
HMAS Cairns is home to not one but two crocodiles. Repeated sightings of a small crocodile - one to two metres long - and a second larger crocodile confirm that we are host to two of North Queensland's finest.
In early 2005 sightings of a large reptile began occurring at HMAS Cairns. News spread quickly around the Establishment by word of mouth, and telephones rang each time a new sighting was made, with officers, sailors and staff all eager for their first glimpse of our new visitor. Frontpage photos in the Cairns Post shortly after his initial appearance seemed to spell the end of our reptilian guest. With a 1-2 metre crocodile removed from a commercial workshop located in Portsmith it was thought the visitations had ceased. Within days of that article our cold-blooded friend had again emerged from the waters of trinity inlet to allow further sightings, dispelling any premature hopes of its forced relocation.
In the following weeks it began to feel more at home and has been seen enjoying the tropical sun on the mudflats in clear view of the Command Administration Building. Despite this, clear pictures of the crocodile remain scarce as each attempt to capture a good image to prove our claims to southern colleagues resulted in a quick return to the water.
Navy takes safety very seriously, however the Occupational Health and safety (OH&S) incident report for this one was unusual to say the least. While statistically shark attacks are more likely, this gives cold comfort when you know the crocodiles are there because you have seen them, week after week. While to a large extent operational support at HMAS Cairns is business as usual, the exception is diving support to homeported ships. HMAS Cairns mitigation of risk factors has meant all diving operations at the establishment have ceased, courtesy of our visiting crocs.
Initial enquires with local authorities suggested that forced relocation would not be a suitable option. Advice received was that the crocodile would already have been in the area for some time prior to any sighting, and that it must be comfortable in its surrounding in order to be openly basking in the sun. Any relocation efforts would likely result in another, possibly larger, crocodile taking residence in the abandoned territory.
In recent months a smaller crocodile joined our initial visitor. The difficulties imposed on our ship's normal operations are balanced by the regular scuttlebutt of sightings. As each month passes sightings increase in frequency and duration. Opinions range from sheer delight at the new residents, to humorous statements of the appropriateness of homemade sweet chilli marinades, BBQs, boots, belts and sling back stilettos as viable alternatives to our prehistoric reptilian interlopers.
In both cases, HMAS Cairns seems destined to work around the reality of living with crocodiles, and they remain a welcome sight on our shores.
