AFP News
From extinction to ‘paradise’ for Australian crocodiles
If you want an easy death, experts advise jumping into a river near the Australian city of Darwin. Within minutes, you’ll find yourself in the jaws of hundreds of crocodiles roaming the murky waters. That’s the promise. Graham Webb has been recognized for his conservation work which is credited with helping bring Australia’s saltwater predators back from the brink of extinction. “You can’t sugarcoat crocodiles. They’re very dangerous,” Webb told AFP from his lush garden in the country’s tropical Top End. He said honest messages about the dangers around Australia’s northern waterways were critical to rebuilding the scaly reptile’s population, which was once decimated by uncontrolled hunting. Before government protection in the 1970s, an estimated 98 per cent of the wild saltwater crocodile population disappeared in the Northern Territory due to demand for hides and slaughter. More than 100,000 salties, which can grow to more than 6 meters long and weigh more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds), currently hunt along the coast, according to government figures. , the rivers and wetlands of the continent’s far north. – “Eating People” – “This has been a raging success story,” Webb said. But rescuing the animals was only the first step. ‘Population; Charlie Manolis, a crocodile expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said the existence of crocodiles was obvious by the 1980s. A public safety campaign known locally as Clockwise and the periodic relocation of the toothy predators from populated areas have allowed them to coexist more peacefully with their occasional prey. Colleagues Mr Webb and Mr Manolis said wild egg harvesting was part of the Northern Territory’s ‘farming’ program, linking the leather industry and livelihoods directly to animals. Under the plan, landowners, many of whom are Indigenous Australians, are on board. “They can receive payment for the wild eggs they collect from their properties, which are then supplied to farms. The lucrative leather trade relies primarily on farms stocking eggs and animals taken from the wild. , 70,000 eggs and 1,400 crocodiles are allowed to be harvested each year.”There are so many people employed through crocodiles,” Webb said, highlighting both the tourism and agricultural industries. – “Cow Eater” – The value of the crocodile farming industry is estimated to be more than AU$100 million (US$66 million) He arrived in the territory, Australia’s largest leather producer, in a year. Masu. The resulting leather is highly valued by luxury brands such as Hermès and Louis Vuitton. Manolis said that while some have criticized management strategies that “exploit” animals and remove them from the wild, the link to industry helps preserve the species. “Agriculture itself is not the problem. Agriculture is what we have done to ensure that wild populations are protected,” he said. “I worked in the mines, then I became a mother, and now I’m a crocodile keeper,” says Jess Grylls, 32, as she steers her boat through the man-made river at Crocodylus Park near Darwin. he told AFP with a smile. The park, founded by Webb, is a tourist attraction and a habitat for “problem crocodiles” (animals removed from the wild because they pose a danger to local residents or develop habitat for munching livestock). It is also a paradise. “But you can leave it where it won’t be a problem,” she said, periodically hoisting a meat hock tethered to a long pole to the side of the boat. The dark green muzzle of the once infamous “cow eater” known as Prince slowly surfaced, followed by the glaring, reptilian eyes. The creature thrust its massive body upwards, stretching its jaws to its fullest extent, then tightening its grip. Teeth dig deep into the flesh, spraying water. The message is clear to the viewer. Be careful around areas where these giants hunt and live. – A ‘million-year’ fear – ‘You always have to guess. As populations rapidly increase and larger crocodiles become common, attacks are likely to increase, albeit infrequently, Manolis said. Mr Manolis said conservation will be the “biggest challenge” as he deals with fears dating back “a million years” while maintaining support. “To be honest, WWF (World Wildlife Fund) doesn’t have any pictures of crocodiles. There are pandas.” “I don’t think they are that scary if you respect them and their territory.” al/djw/ smw