THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 27 August 05 Let hunting safaris go ahead: croc expert (Lindsay Murdoch)
Darwin: A World-Renowned crocodile expert has attacked Steve Irwin and animal welfare activists opposed to the safari hunting of crocodiles after a man was attacked and killed off a remote Northern Territory island.
Darwin-based Grahame Webb, an adviser to wildlife organisations in many countries, said opposition to a NT Government proposal to allow hunting of a few crocodiles was "absurd when you have animals eating people".
Police are hunting a four-metre saltwater crocodile believed to have killed British mines superintendent Russell Harris, 37, off Groote Eylandt last weekend.
Police said Mr Harris was last seen snorkelling 20 metres off shore while his American wife and a couple waited for him on the beach. His body was later found about 1.5 kilometres away.
Associate Professor Webb, a zoologist at Charles Darwin University, said the Federal Government was procrastinating over approving the NT Government's plan to allow the safari hunting of 25 of the territory's estimated 70,000 crocodiles because of pressure from Queensland zoo operator Steve Irwin and other activists. Their real goal, he said, was to "have all of us just eating vegetables".
"How would Melbourne or Sydney people go with crocodiles in their backyards? I can tell you, they would lose their patience very quickly," Professor Webb said.
"Nothing is to be gained from being cruel to animals. But our conservation program up here is at stake because landowners have to have an incentive to put up with crocodiles — it's important that landowners see crocodiles as an asset." Professor Webb said the claim by activists that allowing somebody to pay money to shoot a crocodile would damage Australia's reputation was ridiculous.
Professor Webb, whose company Wildlife Management International owns Crocodilus Park in Darwin, said crocodiles would kill more people in northern Australia but for a strong education program.
"The reality is that these things can kill you and we have done a remarkably good job living with them," he said.
Wes Query: While I'm not as au fey with things crocodilian, I like to think that I at least can keep up with recognising the names of the... umm, big crocs in the pond. I've not heard of 'Grahame Webb' or found him in my press files. Could someone please do me the kindness of zapping me a short note as to the comment "World-Renowned crocodile expert". I usually find The Age pretty good with their published stuff as press coverage goes. Thank you. Wes
Let hunting safaris go ahead: croc expert
