David White and his Daintree River crocodile cruise, Solar Whisper, have been a cornerstone of crocodile conservation and awareness for decades. Many may know David from his engaging social media account where he details 'Days of the Daintree' and documents a wide range of behaviours of wildlife, many of which are not described yet in textbooks.

Operating almost every day of the year, David, his team and his poodle sidekick 'Dougie', have given tens of thousands of visitors a rare and respectful glimpse into the secret lives of crocodiles in their natural environment. Through powerful storytelling, photography and deep knowledge of the river, they have helped people understand the importance of living alongside these incredible apex predators and appreciating the broader wildlife of the Daintree ecosystem.

David is one of the most dedicated crocodile conservationists we know. His work has played a significant role in shifting public perception, encouraging a healthy respect for crocodiles and demonstrating that coexistence is possible. His advocacy has been pivotal any time calls for crocodile culling are put back on the table.

Sadly, last night a low-pressure system across Far North Queensland brought a deluge of rain to the Daintree. Floodwaters broke the mooring of the Solar Whisper, sinking the vessel- a unique solar-powered boat specifically designed for quiet, low-impact wildlife observation on the river. It's not just the boat they have lost, but also the ticket office and other surrounding infrastructure went completely under. David has insurance, but it doesn't even scratch the surface as far as restoring the business.

For now, David and his team are out of business.

We are asking our incredible community to chip in and help support David and his staff during this difficult time, and to help them get back on their feet.

Anyone who knows David knows he is one of the most generous people you could meet- constantly supporting others, giving back to the community, and championing wildlife conservation. He will happily forfeit payment of any kind if it means bringing someone closer to crocodiles and seeing why they matter.

If you can, please contribute to help ensure this iconic Daintree tourism operation continues to be a stronghold for crocodile conservation.

Every contribution will help keep Solar Whisper’s story — and David’s important work — alive.

I spoke to David just now, and he is simply overwhelmed with the community support. He was very emotional. He says that he will utilise the funds to help keep his staff employed as he works out what next. To replace the vessel, he estimates a cost of around $300,000 as regulations have changed and a larger vessel is required to take the same amount of people.

Image: David's purpose-built boat was found this morning upside down, causing the business to close immediately:

Video: More about David (and Douggie) here featured on Channel Nine's 'My Way' program.