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Interesting when the first attempt was made by the NT government to get saltwater crocodiles 'culling' quota opened up to twenty-five crocs being available to 'international sport trophy hunters' ie the safari industry in the Top End, Amanda Vanstone who was then the Federal Minister responsible (her portfolio has since changed) for approving the application, said "we don't want any foreign 'thrill killers' coming in to this country". I didn't watch the programme on TV but one of the current affairs programmes ran a story about alledged cruelty or mistreatment of pigs on her pig farming property.

Interesting to see what she may regard as animal welfare when it is totally in her own control, if the report and alledged treatment of the pigs was true.

In my opinion a total hypocrite.

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If anyone is aware, a certain quota of saltwater crocodiles may be 'harvested' from the wild with a CITES quota in existence right now. Ie crocodiles which are considered problem crocs etc etc etc can be trapped or killed, shot whatever right now and the results, legally exported.

I know one property in the Territory was keen to apply five of their existing quota, ie many more animals than five, to allowing saltwater crocodile safaris on their station.

So the REAL issue here is not that the crocs will be removed from the wild, OR shot and killed, merely that they will be hunted as a trophy by a safari trophy hunter.

Not many people would be aware shooting of crocodiles is actually done right now. I believe the quota is something like two hundred crocs per year. Yet the safari industry AND the NT and Queensland governments were only interested in twenty five crocs being available for safari hunting export permits.

The issue is whether people in Australia and overseas visiting hunters should be allowed to hunt. Nothing to do with conservation at all.

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As I have mentioned above the Northern Territory AND Queensland state governments were heavily in favour of allowing limited safari hunting of saltwater crocodiles in the last attempt. It was and is the Federal Government which against it. The above statement saying the NT gov't "jumps for Urwin" is very infactual as can be expected.

Also many Aboriginal communities were very in favour as they would receive a solid amount of revenues from the safari outfitters for crocs taken on their lands. Surely providing some meaningful revenues for these people which might be impoverished and not a 'hand-out' is also a worthwhile objective.

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The property on which I hunted pigs in the Top End last year had very large numbers of saltwater crocodiles. Even small pools in the small streams had 'salties' of varying size. We even caught a few of a few inches in length only in a small pool (re-released). On the other hand a 'dam-like' pool above the wet season flood levels had a large salty seen basking in the sun oneday.

One of the main billabongs had several very large crocs which fed on the thousands of ducks, geese and other waterbirds on or near the billabong. It was very interesting to sit in the Jeep and watch the croc trying to hunt the ducks. With hundreds of eyes watching his every move he didn't seem to have much of a chance, but no doubt still has a stomach full of duck whenever he needs it.

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"