Did the government of Hawaii announce that it is "importing 174 adult saltwater crocodiles from Australia" to reduce the number of shark attacks? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources told Lead Stories that such a claim is "totally false." Also, the claim came from a self-described entertainment website.
The claim appeared in a Facebook post by the unofficial site The State of Hawaii on May 30, 2020. Above the image of a crocodile on a beach, the caption opened:
We are in the process of importing 174 adult salt water crocodiles from Australia. Over the last few years we have had numerous shark attacks across the state that have resulted in injury and death, we need to do something to stop them.
Studies in Australia have shown that over the last 40 years not one single shark attack has occurred near beaches where salt water crocodiles are present. Sharks do not like crocodiles. So by bringing these majestic animals to Hawaii's waters we will hopefully get the same results, making Hawaii beaches safer.
This is how the post looked on April 27, 2022:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Wed Apr 27 18:24:28 2022 UTC)
The text continued:
Salt Water Crocodiles are endemic to north east Australia who's climate is very similar to Hawaii's, we expect them to do very well here. We are bringing in multiple breeding pairs and hope that over the next few years they will breed allowing us to develope a healthy heard of crocs. The crocodiles will be protect by law just as we protect the Hawaiian Monk seals and Green Seat Turtle. They will be illegal to hunt, eat or keep.
We want to take this opportunity to also remind people to respect our wildlife and do not try to pet or feed the Salties
Dan Dennison, communications manager at the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, responded to an inquiry from Lead Stories via email on April 27, 2022, regarding the post:
There are no Crocs in Hawaii, so totally false.
The source that published the claim is The State of Hawaii, which says at the top of the page it is an "Entertainment Website." While the official Facebook page for the government of Hawaii shows the state seal in the upper left corner, The State of Hawaii page shows a mock seal with a surfboard in the center and "WE GO SURF" written under the board.
The claim in this post is recycled from a similar May 31, 2019, Facebook post on an entertainment page titled "CnC Honolulu." The about page of this account reads:
Official information NOT from the city and county of Honolulu.
Hawaii is located in the North Pacific Ocean. Saltwater crocodiles are typically found in East India and the western Pacific Oceans, whereas American crocodiles are found only in the northern end of South Florida.
