SYDNEY, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Australia's wildlife authorities are warning tourists about a rising number of crocodiles seen at popular swimming spots in the north of Australia's Queensland state, fueling concerns about the public threat posed by the reptiles, local media reported on Wednesday.

A saltwater crocodile was spotted just last week "swimming and sunning" itself at Babinda Creek, south of tourist hub Cairns, adding to reports about crocodile sightings at the Big Sands spot west of scenic area Kuranda, environment officials told local reporters. The creek's clear waters alone are known to attract thousands of tourists to the area.

"There have been several instances where residents have taken matters into their own hands," the ABC News channel quoted a state environment department spokesman as saying, in a response to claims that government crocodile management plans were "not working."

Earlier this year, a Queensland court fined a farmer 500 Australian dollars (382 U.S. dollars) for trapping a 3-meter-long crocodile at his property south of Cairns.

Crocodiles in the far north of Queensland have killed at least three people in the past two years, according to local reports. Crocodiles are a protected species in the state and those found killing the reptiles can be fined more than 28,000 Australian dollars (21,375 U.S. dollars).