Crocodiles make comeback

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 34

Crocodiles make comeback

NZPA-AAP Darwin In the 1950 s and 60s, hunters with high powered rifles searched the swamps and billabongs of the Northern Territory for the saltwater crocodile.

The shooters wreaked havoc on the natural population and all trade in the animals was banned 15 years ago. But crocodiles are now set for a return to the international market - this time in a series of farm projects linked to a carefully monitored crocodile conservation programme. Three crocodile farms recently were given the go-ahead by the federal Government to start production and export early next year. The move will allow

resumed sales of skins and meat and heralds the start of an estimated sAustl.s million industry. The farms were set up in 1980 when Government feasibility studies showed that well-managed programmes could be commercially viable. Intense lobbying began to alter the status of the animals on international conservation registers to allow controlled trade with strict management programmes. The crocodile population recovered rapidly after full protection was granted in 1971. Both international and federal authorities have now been convinced that the new industry should be allowed to proceed. About 11,000 animals

are currently in captivity, many bred from eggs collected in the wild. John Hannon, manager of the largest farm, said about $1.5 million had so far been spent on the operation which had to rely on slender support from tourism to survive. The animals are raised in a series of pens and both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles will be slaughtered at around four years of age. This is the end of the fastest growing period when the saltwater crocodiles are about two metres long and the freshwater animals half a meter shorter. Mr Hannon said saltwater crocodiles had one of the best hides in the world and skins would be

exported to Japan and France for use in handbags and shoes. The meat would be sold in Australia, while the teeth and unfertilised eggs would be sold to tourists as souvenirs. The farm expects to slaughter about 1000 animals in the first year of operation gradually expanding to 2000. About 1000 crocodiles are being bred each year and 10 per cent of all animals will be held back for further breeding. Mr Hannon stressed the importance of the crocodile management programme to ensure the natural survival of the animal. This allows for the removal of up to 4000 eggs a year from the wild but

provides for the return of up to 5 per cent ofhatchlings if the population becomes depleted. Less than 2 per cent of crocodiles born in the wild can be expected to reach maturity and regular monitoring has shown that egg collection has had no impact on the natural population. Hunting of the animals is banned and the Northern Territory Conservation Minister, Terry McCarthy, said the new industry would follow an ordered approach. “There will certainly be no return to the bad old days of wholesale slaughter under our plans of management,” he said.