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Australian Crocodile Proposal
April 27, 2009
In the May issue of The Hunting Report, we report on the renewed effort to open crocodile hunting in Australia's Northern Territory, where the crocodile population has exploded since hunting for this species was closed in 1971. The NT government has submitted a proposal to allow a limited safari hunting quota as part of an overall plan to cull 500 saltwater crocodiles annually. For some time now the government has had to cull or remove 200 crocs a year from the Darwin area due to dangerous conflicts with humans. Also, 35,000 eggs have been legally harvested annually by licensed crocodile farmers, and even that has not held the population in check.
Despite the growth in crocodile numbers and the number of crocodile-related deaths in NT, Australia's federal government has squashed previous proposals to reopen hunting for these apex predators. What are the chances the doors will be opened this time? Read our May issue for an analysis of the situation, then read the proposal below for yourself. Safari hunters interested in being among the first to take a giant Australian saltie will want to weigh in with Crocodile Management for NT. See the last page of the Summary Paper below to send in your comments.
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