Australian conservationist Bob Irwin has warned of the “flagrant folly” of filming crocodile encounters on social media, as he and other wildlife advocates are calling for severe penalties for anyone intentionally interacting with the deadly reptiles.
The 83-year-old father of the late ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin is fearful that recent videos posted online risk creating more copycats if authorities don’t stop it.
It comes two weeks after a person was attacked by a 13-foot crocodile in Far North Queensland, the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland – and is available in the wake of successful litigation against one other social media influencer who filmed himself interacting with crocodiles.
On February 23, 37-year-old Alister MacPhee survived a crocodile attack in Australia’s Bloomfield River, 37 miles south of Cooktown, Australia.
His dog Molly was eaten by the reptile and the crocodile was eventually killed.
MacPhee was reportedly filming himself when the attack occurred.
![Alister MacPhee after being attacked by a crocodile near the Bloomfield boat ramp in Far North Queensland.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008000620.jpg?w=1024)
MacPhee was airlifted to Cairns Hospital for treatment after the attack.
In January, an alert was issued that a big crocodile had been spotted in the area.
Irwin said it was unacceptable that despite warnings from locals and despite clear government warning signs, MacPhee continued to take risks to enter the area.
“Crocodile and his dog Molly paid the ultimate price for this individual’s blatant stupidity,” said Irwin.
“I would add that the crocodile spat out Alister MacPhee. But now he has a scar and a story to inform, and that story is attracting worldwide attention.”
The Queensland Department of Science and Environment strained its judicial power this week, fined influencer Jayden Wilson around $8,000 after he pleaded guilty to 12 counts of taking animals protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Videos of an influencer coping with protected freshwater crocodiles in North Queensland in Australia’s Ross River have been viewed a whole lot of hundreds of times online.
![Videos of Jayden Wilson's interactions with crocodiles remain on his social media despite his recent punishment.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008000714.jpg?w=1024)
But these will not be the only crocodile encounters that attract clicks.
Far North Queensland Fishing Instagrammer Daniel Colombini recently filmed himself jumping into the Tully River, south of Cairns – which is thought for its crocodile vermin.
In the video, Colombini boasted of the act, captioning the clip: “Cliff jumping into waters full of crocodiles.”
He said, “It’s fucking hot, I’m telling you. You’d higher jump off the cliff from the river Tully… The boat will take us after we jump.
“We’ll see what happens, okay?”
![Cassowary Coast Instagrammer Daniel Colombini jumps off a cliff into crocodile-infested waters.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008000621.jpg)
And one other angler from North Queensland posted a video on TikTok of a terrifying crocodile encounter on the same waterway where MacPhee was attacked.
The video shot in Bloomfield Falls in January, which has since been deleted by the man who filmed it, shows a big saltwater crocodile lunging at an angler after the man attracted his attention with a fishing rod.
Despite the removal, the video took on a life of its own, garnering huge views because of countless reposts.
Environmentalists fear the trend could catch on as a method to gain social media exposure and even financial gain.
“Now, someone explain to me why this is not promoting and inspiring similar behavior?” Irwin said.
“How can authorities claim that Alistair MacPhee had no intention of interacting with this crocodile when he filmed it? This query stays unresolved.
“It’s just hypocritical that the same department liable for managing our wildlife has conflicting messages in these very similar cases.
“The one method to stop that is for departments to introduce penalties for this unacceptable behavior.”
DES prosecutors denounced Jayden Wilson’s “foolishness” as the 27-year-old influencer was fined nearly $8,000 by Townsville Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
![Steve Irwin's father Bob speaks about his son at the Crocodile Hunter memorial service held at the Crocoseum at the Australian Zoo on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, September 20, 2006.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008000335.jpg?w=1024)
Townsville Newsletter reported that Wilson took mainly juvenile crocodiles from the river between November 2020 and November 2021, which ultimately resulted in a public criticism about cruelty to protected animals.
Authorities seized the 27-year-old’s cell phone and discovered quite a few photos and videos uploaded to TikTok of him taking crocodiles out of the water and on land using a lasso, net or hands.
DES prosecutor Katy Kutra sought a $13,255 positive, but Chief Justice Ross Mack described the amount as “astronomical” and as an alternative fined nearly $8,000 and ordered Wilson to pay roughly $1,000 in costs while also recording conviction.
Mack called Wilson a “clown” who engaged in such activities for 12 months against a once endangered species.
He added that he needed to set a penalty that will act as a deterrent to others and protect the Queensland community and environment.
Wilson pleaded guilty to 12 counts of taking animals protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Defense attorney Mathai Joshi said his client didn’t act out of cruelty to the crocodiles and that it was a case of catch and release.
Joshi added that Wilson was fascinated by crocodiles and didn’t wish to hurt them when he caught them.
A chorus of conservationists and indigenous leaders have unanimously called for tougher penalties for many who put themselves in peril near crocodiles, saying that under DES Queensland’s current crocodile management plan, animals all the time pay.
The MacPhee attack led to the subsequent death of a big crocodile estimated to be at the very least 40 years old.
![](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008000430.jpg?w=1024)
This made the traditional owners of Kuku Yalanji upset at the animal’s death and fearful that the incident would scare off esteemed tourists
“For that person to proceed and do what they did. It’s sad and completely silly,” said Aunt Kathleen Walker from the local Wujal Wujal community.
“We would like people to return and visit our beautiful neighborhood, but in addition to not do silly things like this guy.
“We’re very connected to our surroundings. This may make all the pieces change. This warning on the sign is written in plain English. Same signage that’s throughout the area. There is not any excuse.”
Matt Cornish, a Queensland police officer turned wildlife teacher, said earlier news.com.au that incidents like MacPhee needn’t be repeated.
“Provided that this was recorded, it could be a superb opportunity for the Department of Environment and Science to step up and set an example of this man’s behavior,” he said.
Meanwhile, Irwin said he is usually contacted by young aspiring Australians who wish to work in wildlife management, but sometimes explaining the reality to them is painful.
“Nonetheless, it’s a really sad reality that over the years I even have been contacted by a number of concerned wildlife officers working for the Department of Environment and Science regarding permission to kill crocodiles or other wildlife.
“No person agrees to do this when their intention is to guard our native wildlife through an authority like the Department of Environment and Science,” he said.
“I can accept that nobody will ever come nose to nose with crocodile management in Queensland.
“This may all the time be a contentious issue, and the crocodile culling debate is rarely removed from resurfacing.
“But on this case, people have spoken out they usually wish to see the government implement the ‘no tolerance’ approach in crocodile country because of the Bloomfield incident.”
The DES maintains that no crime was committed under the regulations administered by the department in reference to the MacPhee attack.