NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES (Batemans Bay, Australia) 17 April 05 US hunters invited to bag a salty
Northern Territory (AAP): High rolling international trophy hunters have been invited to bag a saltwater croc in the Northern Territory - even though it is illegal.
The Northern Territory government said it was seeking an explanation for an advertising flyer for a Victorian company promoting crocodile hunting safaris near Darwin.
The Australian South Pacific Safaris flyer was circulated at a recent international safari hunting convention in the United States, NT Parks and Wildlife director David Ritchie said.
It said hunters could bag a saltwater crocodile - protected in the NT since the 1970s - for $US5,000.
“We have written to the proprietor ... we have pointed out it’s illegal to hunt salt water crocodiles,” Mr Ritchie said.
It comes as the federal government considers whether to lift a 33-year ban on the safari hunting in the NT, which is home to more than 60,000 crocodiles.
The Territory government has been lobbying the federal government to allow controlled hunting of 25 crocodiles a year.
With high roller hunters expected to pay big bucks for the opportunity to snag a salty, the NT government argues the practice will increase the economic opportunities for impoverished Aboriginal landowners.
Until any change was made, croc hunters could face a $50,000 fine or up to five years’ jail, Mr Ritchie said.
“We have got no evidence that there is any safari hunting of crocodiles at all - if we were aware of it we would be following up the prosecution,” Mr Ritchie said.
“It appears this has been offered in the US.
“I can only assume it’s an operator who has wanted to be first off the mark if we get approval from the commonwealth to license (limited crocodile hunting).”
He did not expect the incident would have any negative impact on the NT government’s push to allow crocodile hunting.
“It’s a process that will be the first in Australia for this to occur,” Mr Ritchie said.
“We are still confident that it will happen.”
He said there had been “some positive indications” and expected a decision on the matter from government hopefully this year.
Under the NT proposal, strict conditions would be placed on safari hunters and operators, including that hunters pass a shooting test and crocodiles being shot only out of water.
The 25 hunted crocs would be included in the annual quota of 600 crocodiles which can be legally harvested for their skins in the territory.
US hunters invited to bag a salty