Federal Environment Minister rejects Northern Territory crocodile safari hunting proposal

Plans to introduce crocodile safari hunting in the Northern Territory have been rejected by Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt.

The Northern Territory Government had wanted to trial commercial ‘trophy hunting’ of large saltwater crocodiles.

With the Federal Environment Department having consulted with traditional landowners, environmental groups, industry stakeholders and animal rights groups about the proposal, Minister Hunt has advised that the plan would not be allowed to go ahead.

He explained "my view is that there was a risk of cruel and inhumane treatment. That was in my view, inappropriate.

"There have been a series of ministers, both on the Coalition side and on the other side, that have periodically rejected this.

"So (it’s) no (to) crocodile safaris in the Northern Territory."

Backers of the proposal are unhappy with the decision, with Professor Grahame Webb, who runs Crocodylus Park in Darwin, saying that the Federal Government had been deterred by animal rights activists.

Professor Webb told the ABC "they're frightened of the animal rights and animal welfare lobbies down in Canberra, I don't think they care too much about landowners and crocodiles up here.

"I would say they're being lobbied by people who just think this is outrageous."

The majority of saltwater crocodiles are found on Aboriginal lands and waterways.

The Territory Government wanted to trial the hunting for two years, with up to 50 of the large protected crocodiles killed annually.

The Environment Department said it received hundreds of formal submissions from industry groups and environmental organisations, including Humane Society International (HSI).

HSI spokesperson Alexia Wellbelove suggested that the hunting proposal offered no significant economic benefits for Indigenous communities and created a risk of destroying other tourism brands.

She stated "(proposed hunting) rewards very few or benefits very few people

"We believe very strongly that there is far more potential in the remote areas of the Top End in ecotourism than there are for elitist safari hunting activities."

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