Croc death renews hunt debate

September 27, 2005

Crocodile / AFP

Attack ... the hunting of crocodiles is again up for debate / AFP

THE latest fatal crocodile attack in the Northern Territory has sparked renewed calls for trophy hunting of the killer reptiles.
Englishman Russell Harris, 37, was snorkelling with a friend in a popular swimming spot off Groote Eylandt, near Arnhem Land, when he disappeared on Saturday afternoon.

His American wife was relaxing on remote Picnic Beach with the other man's partner, but the group became worried and alerted police when Mr Harris failed to return by late afternoon.

Mr Harris' body was found on Sunday at the mouth of Eight Mile Creek, about 1.5km north of where he was last seen.

"It's a shocking tragedy," police Acting Sen-Sgt Stephen Pfitzner said yesterday.

"There are a number of injuries on the deceased and also there was a crocodile sighted very close to where the deceased was."

Mr Harris, from Nottingham, had worked for five months as technical services superintendent at BHP Billiton's Gemco mine on the remote island.

Authorities were yesterday hunting the 4m crocodile so they could move it to another area.

The NT Government has long been lobbying the Federal Government to lift a 33-year ban on trophy hunting of crocodiles, as it grapples with an explosion in croc numbers.

Environment Minister Ian Campbell is due to make a decision in coming weeks, but has indicated opposition to it.

About 75,000 crocodiles live in Northern Territory waterways, of which 600 a year can be legally harvested for their skins.

Crocodile hunter Mick Pitman said it was time to allow crocodile hunting.

"They are eating people, eating dogs, cows and horses. We are sick of it up north," Mr Pitman said.

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