Australia & New Zealand : Australia: Government rejects crocodile-hunting plan
on 2009/10/3 1:31:05
The Federal Government has rejected a plan to allow the safari hunting of salt-water crocodiles in the Northern Territory.

The rejection, announced by Environment Minister Peter Garrett today, is a setback for the NT Government's efforts to foster indigenous employment and enterprise.

It will disappoint Aborigines, professional hunters and pastoralists, who had strongly supported the territory's draft crocodile management program that included the trial hunting of 25 big crocodiles a year over five years.

Safari hunters were expected to pay up to $25,000 for safari hunts.

Mr Garrett said he believed safari hunting was not a suitable approach for the responsible management of crocodiles.

He said in considering the Government's proposal he had sought to ensure “a balance between environmental protection and appropriate management of these animals in the Top End".

The NT Government asked the Commonwealth to allow the hunting of crocodiles with a minium size of 3.5 metres.

Hunters would use rifles fitted with telescopic sights.

Shots aimed at the head would have had to be taken at no more than 50 metres from the animal.

An indigenous guide would back up the hunter “with arms to shoulder” to finish off the crocodile in the event the hunter only wounded it.

Crocodiles have been protected in the NT since 1971.

Since then, their numbers have grown to more than 70,000, making it dangerous to enter many of the territory's waterways.