http://gulfnews.com/news/world...fari-hunts-1.1035930


Australia mulls crocodile safari hunts

Federal government rejected a similar proposal several years ago but has agreed to revisit the issue as croc numbers soar
AFP
Published: 00:00 June 15, 2012



Sydney: Australia is mulling a plan to allow the trophy hunting of saltwater crocodiles, officials said Thursday, with the controversial idea being thrown open for public comment.

The federal government rejected a similar proposal several years ago on the grounds that it was not appropriate, but has agreed to revisit the issue as croc numbers soar.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said he would not comment until the consultation process, open until July 25, takes its course.

“There are different views among different traditional [Aboriginal land]owners on this and I really want to make sure I get the opportunity to hear those different views,” he said.



If approved, it would mean hunters could pay money to kill crocodiles, which the Northern Territory government says will provide jobs for Aborigines — with most crocodile habitat on their land — and stimulate tourism.

“We have been pushing the government to consider safari hunting for some time as a way to generate indigenous employment and I’m very pleased to see steps taken in this direction,” said Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson.

Under the plan, 50 saltwater crocodiles will be available for safari hunting for a two-year trial period, taken from the annual sustainable harvest quota of 500 adults already allocated under an existing management programme.

But not everyone is happy, with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) saying it would take precision and skill to kill a crocodile humanely.

“There is no possible conservation benefit to be derived from the killing of crocodiles for trophies, nor does it provide a means of controlling problem crocodiles,” said RSPCA Australia chief scientist Bidda Jones.


‘No justification’

“This is nothing more than killing animals for entertainment and there is no justification for that.”

Northern Territory environment minister Karl Hampton argued that safari hunting of feral animals such as buffalo and pig already existed on private land, and similar strict regulations would apply to crocodiles.

“Just like those safaris, the one proposed as part of our Crocodile Management plan is subject to the Animal Welfare Act and strict humane obligations will apply,” Hampton said.

Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow up to seven metres long and weigh more than a tonne, are a common feature of Australia’s tropical north and kill an average of two people a year.

They have been protected since the 1970s with their population estimated at over 150,000.

Bloody hell Kathi, you beat me to it.

From the NT news

http://www.ntnews.com.au/artic...4/307355_ntnews.html

Its got to be only a matter of time (or some more deaths)before the controlled hunting of Crocks starts up.
I have a few mates going up this season for pig hunting and Barra fishing and I sternly warn them not to become Croc food! Those animals need to be reminded who is boss.

When I saw this announced, I wondered why is the Gov't announcing it now, what "other news" are they trying to bury and what trade off with the Greens are they trying to pull off later down the track (by not introducing this).

I do agree with OzHunter though, a bit of culling of the big one's won't do any harm.

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I saw a TV program last week - in the 1970s Darwin had a population of around 25,000 and now it is 130,000! They recon the croc population was decimated in the 1970s 7 80s and they are just coming back to a portion of the old number. Croc attacks are more common because of population growth.

I wonder what the age profile of the crocs are. Will we ever see 25 foot salties again? There one of that size in in Indian sanctuary
http://www.aquaticcommunity.co...odiles/saltwater.php

There was supposed to be a 6 meter croc at corroboree billabong a few yeras ago.

Hope this comes to pass

Yeah hope you all do heli croc hunts they are a dangerous pest anyway and the punters fly from hotels in Darwin. Cuts the guides and aborigines out of the whole thing. You can harpoon the crocs after you machine gun them, after all who has the time to hang around in that impossible dangerous nasty Australia.

Talking about Helicopters and Crocs.

A mate of mine was collecting eggs, the little Helicopter had it's skid resting on something while my mate collected the eggs.

Well, let's say the mother wasn't too pleased and managed to launch herself into the open doorway of the Helo, luckily the passenger side.

My mate said the pilot nearly shat himself.

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Now now Weathered let not start any of that.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
Under the plan, 50 saltwater crocodiles will be available for safari hunting for a two-year trial period, taken from the annual sustainable harvest quota of 500 adults already allocated under an existing management programme.

But not everyone is happy, with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) saying it would take precision and skill to kill a crocodile humanely.

“There is no possible conservation benefit to be derived from the killing of crocodiles for trophies, nor does it provide a means of controlling problem crocodiles,” said RSPCA Australia chief scientist Bidda Jones.

No possible conservation benefit? How about a A$10,000 trophy fee and then for 10% of the sustainable resource croc population that would be shot/killed anyway you get an extra A$0,5 million to spend on conservation/habitat protection/whatever...

Out of interest, what kind of trophy fee do you think would be considered?

What are the other 500 crocs allocated under the existing management program? Who kills them?

Why not generate additional income for conservation and the economy. I know, to logical for the antis to understand.

As long as the situation doesn't get to the wholesale slaughter stage, the croc population is easily sustainable / will continue to grow at a large pace.

Re size, I think over the next 10 - 20 years you will really start to see some bigger crocs show themselves. Their are quite a few 15, 16 and 17 footers around with no one killing them.

Just my HO.

They are usually killed by the cattle stations employes as they are cattle killers. And thats he whole point as Jabalihunter said. You may as well get some $$ for they if they are going to get shot anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
They are usually killed by the cattle stations employes as they are cattle killers. And thats he whole point as Jabalihunter said. You may as well get some $$ for they if they are going to get shot anyway.

Exactly.

Shot, tagged and wasted !

Why not Shot, tagged, skinned and eaten then trophy admired for many years to come with $$$ flowing back into the economy.


Does anyone know how many crocs the Aboriginies would shoot a year ?

sign me up! I'd love to take one of these critters

Anything new on this?

Gayne

If anything happens, it will always be front page news in this newspaper (as opposed to somewhere in the middle in a National Newspaper where you might miss it).

www.ntnews.com.au


Alternatively, try google every so often, that will always bring the most recent news to the front.

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quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
What are the other 500 crocs allocated under the existing management program? Who kills them?

Why not generate additional income for conservation and the economy. I know, to logical for the antis to understand.

the (legal) ones wiith tags are shot/trapped by accredited trappers or parks rangers.