Hannah Osborne is the planet Earth and animals editor at Live Science. Prior to Live Science, she worked for several years at Newsweek as the science editor. Before this she was science editor at International Business Times U.K. Hannah holds a master's in journalism from Goldsmith's, University of London.
Australia has a crocodile problem. In the last two decades, attacks have risen sharply after the population exploded. Along with safety messaging, government officials are increasing the number of permitted crocodile kills, but experts say the move isn't likely to work given how mobile crocodiles are — kill one, and another will immediately move into its territory.
Because of this rise, both crocodile attacks and retaliatory attacks by humans are increasing. In the latest incident, on Aug. 3, 40-year-old David Hogbin fell into the Annan River in Queensland and was killed by a 16-foot-long saltwater crocodile , which was later killed by wildlife officials. And in 2023, a 13-foot crocodile was found beheaded on a beach. A few months later, a 40-year-old female croc was also found dead, having been butchered with just her head and spine remaining.
So researchers are developing tests that will show where crocodiles are — without ever needing to see them. To test for eDNA, the team collects water samples and filters them. The scientists then extract any detectable DNA in the lab, amplifying it and searching for evidence of croc DNA, Furlan said.
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