CONSERVATIONIST Bob Irwin has urged authorities and the public not to retaliate against crocodiles after a suspected fatal attack on a tourist in Cape York.

Arthur Booker, 62, from Logan, south of Brisbane, has not been seen since he went to check a crabpot at the Endeavour River Escape campsite near Cooktown, north of Cairns, about 8.30am yesterday.

A crocodile’s track marks were found at the site, but so far, a wristwatch and sandals are the only traces of Mr Booker the search party has found.

Mr Irwin, father of the late Steve Irwin and founder of Australia Zoo at Beerwah, today said the crocodile was just doing what it had to do to survive in the wild.

“I would hate to see this crocodile, or indeed any crocodile, slaughtered because of what happened,” Mr Irwin said.

“The crocodile was simply hunting for food. It’s what they obviously have to do in the wild to survive.

“Because of his reported size, it’s likely that this area of the river would have been his home for at least 50 years.”

Mr Irwin said people needed to be croc savvy in areas like Cape York.

“There are signs all over the area warning locals and tourists that the area is home to saltwater crocodiles,” he said.

“I feel tremendously sorry for the man’s family, and my deepest sympathy goes out to them.

“It is very, very sad for the family. But you really can’t blame the crocodile.”

Mr Irwin also spoke out recently about the senseless slaughter of koalas and other native wildlife in south-east Queensland, and a now-infamous video in which a youth beat a kangaroo to death.