Wayward crocodile captured

BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A crocodile that moved to a beach resort in northeast Australia was captured early Friday for another move -- this time to a zoo or crocodile farm.

The animal, nicknamed Whitey, is on its second government-sponsored move, The Brisbane Courier-Mail reported. Whitey was moved to the Townsville area for a satellite tracking program begun by the late naturalist Steve Irwin and then decided to move himself to Magnetic Island.

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle outraged many locals Thursday when he argued that Whitey and other crocodiles in tourist areas are attractions.

"The fascination with our wildlife, including our dangerous wildlife, is a drawcard to tourists in the tropics, far from it being a barrier or a means of dissuading them from coming," she said.

A Vietnam War veteran who lived near Brisbane was killed recently by a crocodile in northern Queensland, where he was on a fishing trip with his wife.

Beaches on Magnetic Island were closed when Whitey appeared. Some local residents had organized a "Stop the Croc" rally scheduled for Sunday.