Brace yourself for safari hunting of giant crocodiles Paul Toohey | April 16, 2009
Article from: The Australian

THE Northern Territory Government has released a draft crocodile management plan that supports safari hunting and outlines how wild crocodiles should be stalked and killed.

Calling for comments on its proposed five-year saltwater crocodile management program, the Government says it wants to trial the hunting of 25 animals over the next five years.

All crocodiles taken would be a minimum size of 3.5m and hunters would use centre-fire rifles of not less than .30 calibre. A telescopic sight must be fitted and the shot, which must be to the head, must be taken at a distance of no more than 50m from the animal.

The animal could not be shot while it was in the water and "the entire body of a crocodile must be above the watermark before a shot is discharged".

Further, a guide must back up the safari hunter "with arms to shoulder" to finish off the crocodile in the event the hunter only wounds it.

Environment Minister Alison Anderson said the plan was not intended as a measure to control crocodile numbers, but to foster indigenous employment and enterprise.

Animal welfare groups have condemned the plan, but Aborigines, professional hunting groups and pastoralists strongly support it, although they consider the quota of 25 animals over five years much too low to generate any genuine business for anyone.

Geoff Fleming, a partner in Peter Davidson's Arnhem Land Hunting Safaris, said: "There's real interest out there in croc hunting because there's not too many trophy animals to hit up here; just buffaloes, banteng, pig, goats and a few samba deer.

"This could absolutely succeed but 25 animals over five years isn't enough. I don't know where they get that figure from; it's silly. We're overrun with them.

"There aren't that many outfitters in the Territory, just half a dozen reputable crews. If you gave each of them 10 to 15 animals every year, that would be more like it. You're just trying to take out the big smart ones and leave the middle-sized ones."

There will be a six-week opportunity for submissions after which it will fall to federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to decide whether the hunt can go ahead.

Crocodiles are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species treaty, to which Australia is a signatory. Crocodile products may be exported only with a CITES permit, which are issued by Mr Garrett's department.

Hunters consider the taking home of trophies as mandatory.

Mr Garrett will also be required to consider the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. His office said the minister would need to be satisfied the harvest was sustainable and not detrimental to the species.

Wild saltwater crocodiles were commercially hunted in the Northern Territory until 1971, when they were protected after their numbers became precariously low. They have recovered and there are now an estimated 80,000 animals at large.

Marlee Ranacher, of the Bullo River station on the Victoria River, has supported safari hunting for many years.

"We, being landholders who associate with crocodiles on a daily basis, have wanted it for a long time," Ms Ranacher said.

"We've proposed it twice and it's been knocked back. We can already apply for a licence to cull crocodiles and currently we take about 10 a year. We trap them and kill them and sell their skins. We reason that if we are allowed to do that, then we may as well bring hunters in.

"Everyone could then make some real money. Hotels and airports and others would benefit as well.

"I think 25 is too conservative a number, that's the only thing. There's way too many crocs around. I've grown up on this property. Places we used to happily swim I wouldn't put my toe in the water. Provided there are some ethics in the hunting, I can't see there ever was an issue."

Any decision by Mr Garrett that favoured crocodile hunting would not require legislative change but would indicate a change in policy from that of the Howard government, which was reluctant to entertain the notion.

Under the draft plan, animals could only be shot, with no spearing or harpooning permitted. Any boats used in a hunt would have to be fully surveyed and fitted with bow rails at least 1m high to brace the body when shooting.

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.... Any boats used in a hunt would have to be fully surveyed and fitted with bow rails at least 1m high to brace the body when shooting.

Right.

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Any boats used in a hunt

So it will be a spot light shoot???

TV Interview with AR member Robert Borsak,on the opening of Crocodile hunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iyQt7bHHEo

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Originally posted by TOP_PREDATOR:
TV Interview with AR member Robert Borsak,on the opening of Crocodile hunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iyQt7bHHEo

Not bad at all.

Thanks for the video.
The pict in the video of Matt Kelman standing by the croc looks very familiar.