AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION 19 August 05 Minister dismisses calls for crocodile cull
Queensland Environment Minister Desley Boyle says calls for a crocodile cull are irresponsible.
The Opposition has made the suggestion after Tuesday's attack on Barry Jefferies, 60, who was dragged from a canoe while fishing with his wife in the Lakefield National Park.
Mr Jefferies' body has not been found but authorities have destroyed the crocodile believed responsible.
The Opposition says it is time for the Government to consider a cull because crocodile numbers are increasing.
But Mrs Boyle has dismissed the idea.
"It's irresponsible to call for a cull at this time, we've had a dreadful tragedy up north where a man has lost his life," she said.
"Culling is not going to be the answer. Where there's crocodile habitat then there is always a danger."
Mrs Boyle says the current management approach to crocodiles will remain.
"Humans can be safe if they heed the warnings when they go into really remote areas where crocodiles are known, filmed regularly, to be living," she said.
"There is an onus then on human beings to behave responsibly, to be safe and to protect themselves."
The director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in far north Queensland says the disappearance of Mr Jefferies this week demonstrates that boat size does matter in saltwater crocodile habitats.
Clive Cook says larger boats are safer.
"As a general principle we advise caution for any water craft of course, obviously it's a measure of the risk that people take," he said.
"Clearly small boats that are somewhat more flimsy than a runabout for example are by definition more hazardous when it comes to a large reptile like a crocodile."
COURIER-MAIL (Brisbane, Australia) 19 August 05 Irwin opposes croc-cull call (Steve Connolly)
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin has strongly opposed calls for a croc cull after a fatal attack on a fisherman in north Queensland.
There have been demands for a crocodile cull following the suspected death of Townsville man Barry Jefferies in a Cape York waterway on Tuesday.
Mr Irwin, an environmentalist who has gained international fame as television's Crocodile Hunter, said calls for a croc cull were "uneducated".
"Crocodiles are Australia's apex predators and an important part of our ecosystem – without them our river systems and marine environment will suffer," he said.
"We need to have a better understanding of these dinosaurs before anyone makes uneducated calls for culling."
Mr Jefferies, 60, and his wife Glenda were fishing in a canoe in the Lakefield National Park when a 400kg, 3.8m croc grabbed his arm and pulled him into the water.
A search for his body has so far failed to find any remains.
The crocodile believed responsible for the attack was shot but a post-mortem examination has failed to find any human traces inside the dead reptile.
Mr Irwin, who is in north Queensland on a satellite crocodile tracking research program, cautioned against a hasty call to arms against crocs.
"We have already taken them to the brink through hunting once before and we now have to learn everything about their secret lives so we can safely live with them into the future," he said.
"Whilst this recent fatality in Lakefield is a shocking tragedy, and my deepest sympathy goes out to the wife and family of the missing man, we need to assess all of the information and circumstances surrounding this case and learn from it so it doesn't happen again.
"Random killing of crocodiles will not eliminate the ongoing need for safe co-existence between humans and crocodiles."
Queensland Environment Minister Desley Boyle has also said a croc cull will not prevent future attacks.
But the state's Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg believes a cull is the only way to keep people safe.
"It is now time to act and look seriously at the issue of controlled culls of crocodiles," he said.
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16313404%5E1702,00.html
Minister dismisses calls for crocodile cull
