Australia & New Zealand : Australia: Safety warning over croc 'exclusion zone'
on 2009/10/5 8:22:41
A Darwin crocodile scientist says there is a risk the Northern Territory Government's promise to create a 50 kilometre crocodile exclusion zone around the city will lull the public into a false sense of security.

The Government's plan, including a commitment to kill or remove 500 adult crocodiles from the wild each year, was approved by the Federal Government on Friday.

The chief scientist at the Crocodylus Park, Charlie Manolis, says it will be almost impossible for the Government to keep the exclusion zone free of crocodiles.

He says the Government must back-up the management plan with a stronger public awareness campaign warning of the dangers posed by crocodiles.

"There is a real risk that people will think, 'Well, this is a crocodile exclusion zone and they've been removing crocs, therefore it is safe or safer'," he said.

"And that's wrong.

"We know that from 30 years of unregulated hunting in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s and yet within one or two years of protection people were being attacked."

Mr Manolis says the Government has not committed enough funding for rangers to achieve its aims.

He says floating traps and harpooning are currently used, but other techniques which are less labour intensive, such as snares and baited hooks, should be considered.

"You know you are talking about vast amounts of park," he said.

"They are remote, and you may need to look at some other capture methods that may be a bit more innovative, that might be a bit more efficient, more effective, so that you don't need to put so many people into it.

"But look I am sure they will sit down and look into it in due course."