NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS (Darwin, Australia) 09 November 10 Time to take crocs to taskThere were only 5000 saltwater crocodiles left in the wild in the Territory when laws to protect them were introduced in the early 1970s.
They were only a few dry seasons away from extinction.
The population has now recovered to about 70,000 - crocodiles are being seen in stretches of river where they haven't been seen for 100 years.
This creates a major dilemma: how to manage an animal that can easily become a maneater.
Territorians do a good job managing crocodiles; indeed, there is probably no other city - certainly not in the developed world - where people live alongside such a mighty predator in relative harmony. But we can do better.
It seems that the NT Government has backed away from its 50km croc-free zone.
Excellent. It was a damn silly idea.
But there is still a need to "manage" crocodiles in creeks close to population centres; manage, in this instance, is a euphemism for shoot or capture.
World-renowned crocodile expert Grahame Webb has won a Government contract to improve management techniques.
His recommendations are bound to include the need for more resources - manpower and equipment.
The Labor Government and CLP opposition have not covered themselves in glory in this discussion. They have both mouthed off like rednecks.
Professor Webb can be trusted to bring common sense - and science - back to the debate.
... and another thing
The NT Government is to renew its push for Canberra to allow crocodile hunting. Despite what southern Greenies might think, the tightly-controlled safaris could be a good management tool and a source of genuine, well-paid employment for Aboriginal people living in remote communities.
Time to take crocs to task