The Amazing Wildlife Kings of Cairns

People often travel to places like Africa for the sole purpose of seeing their ‘top 5’ wild animals, but did you know that Cairns has its own top wild animals too? Crocodiles and sharks are some of the world’s most fearsome creatures and there’s really nothing quite like seeing these carnivorous kings in their natural habitats. Thankfully, Cairns not only have these ‘top 2’ wildlife kings, but we have them in abundance!

The Estuarine Crocodile

There’s no doubt about it – crocs flourish in the Cairns region and are a definite part of the community. You’ll see them depicted all around town in Indigenous artworks, in local sculptures, in business names and on the signs warning visitors to be wary of these super-quick assassins. Estuarine crocodiles (AKA saltwater crocodiles) are commonly found in rivers, estuaries, swamps, lagoons and even small creeks and beaches, all over the Australian tropics.

These impressive reptiles – which are known to live for over 50 years – can grow up to seven metres in length (four metres for females) and weigh up to a tonne! Because of their massive size, they obviously need to eat an equally massive volume of food, so they dine on whatever large prey they can get their teeth around, such as pigs, wallabies, cattle, horses and – when desperate – even other crocs. Unfortunately, humans also feature on their menu and people are killed by crocs every year in Australia! Most of these people were not being ‘croc-wise’ though, so if you follow the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s recommendations and guidelines when you’re in crocodile country, you’ll be fine.

In fact, your compliance with these guidelines will not only keep you safe, but also help to contribute to the conservation of these extremely important members of the ecosystem. By protecting the crocs, we also help protect the delicate balance of the local food chain.
To see some estuarine crocodiles up close and in a safe environment, why not spend half a day at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, where you can see some baby crocs, feed some older ones and take a cruise in some croc-infested waters. You’ll also get the chance to interact with a variety of other tropical species. If you’d like to combine some croc-spotting with some speedy thrills, try the Jetski Crocodile Spotting Tour. This tour will take you around the gorgeous Cairns Trinity Inlet via Jet Ski, spotting crocs along the way.

Sharks

There are a whopping 133 species of shark and stingray living within the Great Barrier Reef! These range from the gargantuan (but completely harmless) whale shark, all the way down to the tiny species, such as the epaulette shark. The most common species within the Cairns area is the graceful reef shark. These timid sharks are generally harmless to divers and prefer to keep their distance. In fact, shark attacks in this area are very rare and when they do occur, it is generally due to provocation or carelessness. The dangerous species – such as the tiger shark or white pointer – prefer colder waters, so shark diving in Cairns is considered an extremely safe activity.

There are a whopping 133 species of shark and stingray living within the Great Barrier Reef These range from the gargantuan (but completely harmless) whale shark, all the way down to the tiny species, such as the epaulette shark. The most common species within the Cairns area is the graceful reef shark. These timid sharks are generally harmless to divers and prefer to keep their distance. In fact, shark attacks in this area are very rare and when they do occur, it is generally due to provocation or carelessness. The dangerous species – such as the tiger shark or white pointer – prefer colder waters, so shark diving in Cairns is considered an extremely safe activity.

If you’d like to dive with these beautiful and elegant creatures, there are a number of diving tours that will help you experience some one-on-one shark time. Liveaboard Dive Boat - Cod Hole & Coral Sea lets you choose from between three and seven days of diving pleasure, living aboard the luxurious vessel. Plenty of time for shark spotting. The Liveaboard Dive Boat - Deep Sea Divers Den gives you a one, two or three-night experience, allowing you to snorkel or scuba dive in an area where there’s plenty of shark activity. For those who want to gain their certification as a scuba diver, you’ll enjoy a wonderful two nights and three days learning, diving and shark spotting on the Liveaboard Dive Boat - Pro Dive tour. There’s also the Reef Boat Overnight - Reef Encounter, which will let you experience some of the Great Barrier Reef’s finest areas.