Big game hunters could be setting their sights on saltwater crocodiles in Australia’s tropical northern territories by the end of the year.
It is hoped that launching crocodile safaris in the north would provide a much-needed revenue boost for Aboriginal communities.
Government ministers made the announcement today, despite fierce objection from the country’s conservationists.
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Hunter becomes the hunted: A five-metre saltwater crocodile decides to snack on its two-metre companion in Australia’s northern Kakadu national park. The government may allow the launch of crocodile safari hunts in the Northern Territory before the end of the year
The so-called ‘trophy hunts’ were rejected early last year, with environment minister Greg Hunt branding them inappropriate and adding that they risk ‘cruel and inhuɱaп’ behaviour.
But other government ministers insist the safaris would be a boost for the indigenous communities that live in the region.
Indigenous affairs minister Nigel Scullion argued that Aboriginal communities should be given the option of selling permits to shoot a small number of crocodiles.
The crocodiles – which kill an average of two people a year in Australia – would otherwise be culled annually.
‘This is about science,’ Scullion told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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Lethal weapon: Numbers of saltwater crocodiles are rising in the Northern Territory since they were declared a protected species. But ministers hope to monetise the annual cull to give an economic boost to the Aboriginal communities
‘There’s no difference from crocodiles and flathead [fish], obviously apart from size and teeth.
‘Why would you not have safari hunting as a part of an existing ɱaпagement regime?’
It is believed that there would be a serious international deɱaпd for the opportunity to take out a crocodile.
Supporters of the scheme esᴛι̇ɱate that big game hunters would be prepared to pay as much as Aus$30,000 – £15,000 – to bag a trophy reptile.
‘I just think it’s ᴛι̇ɱe to ensure that our first Australians can get a bite of the economic bullet,’ he said.
Bess Price, who is the Northern Territory’s Minister for Parks and Wildlife, also backed making crocodile hunting legal, saying it could provide opportunities for Aboriginal people.
‘It’s a great opportunity because it brings about economic development and employment opportunities for indigenous people,’ she said.
The Territory’s Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries Willem Westra van Holthe also jumped on the proposal, which he said would give Australia’s ‘Top End’ tourism a boost.
‘It means that we’ll be able to market the Territory in another sense, worldwide, globally, and have people come into the Northern Territory, work with indigenous people to go out and safari hunt these huge crocodiles,’ he said.
Conservationists are staunchly against plans to begin hunting the crocodiles, however.