This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-35339947
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Is it right to steal wild crocodile eggs? | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| It is the stuff of Boys' Own adventure novels - rugged Australians dropping into wild saltwater crocodile nests to snatch day-old eggs from territorial females. | It is the stuff of Boys' Own adventure novels - rugged Australians dropping into wild saltwater crocodile nests to snatch day-old eggs from territorial females. |
| The eggs command a high price from farms which produce meat, leather and other goods, so there are plenty of people willing to take on the risky job. | The eggs command a high price from farms which produce meat, leather and other goods, so there are plenty of people willing to take on the risky job. |
| But whether this derring-do should be legal or not has become a hot topic in the state of Queensland, where the government is reviewing its crocodile management plan. | But whether this derring-do should be legal or not has become a hot topic in the state of Queensland, where the government is reviewing its crocodile management plan. |
| Proponents say legalisation in the neighbouring Northern Territory brought substantial economic benefits, particularly to indigenous communities, without affecting crocodile numbers. | Proponents say legalisation in the neighbouring Northern Territory brought substantial economic benefits, particularly to indigenous communities, without affecting crocodile numbers. |
| Critics, though, say it is not right to take the eggs, as most are already lost to inundation or predation. | Critics, though, say it is not right to take the eggs, as most are already lost to inundation or predation. |
| 'Emotional claptrap' | 'Emotional claptrap' |
| Leichhardt Federal MP and former crocodile farmer Warren Entsch says few people understand the crocodile industry and "it's easy to bring emotional claptrap". | Leichhardt Federal MP and former crocodile farmer Warren Entsch says few people understand the crocodile industry and "it's easy to bring emotional claptrap". |
| He told the BBC he strongly supports legalising egg harvesting in Queensland. | He told the BBC he strongly supports legalising egg harvesting in Queensland. |
| He would like to see a quota of eggs taken from nests, harvested, then sold to farmers who supply skins to global fashion houses. | He would like to see a quota of eggs taken from nests, harvested, then sold to farmers who supply skins to global fashion houses. |
| Mr Entsch said the number of saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory had grown substantially despite the provision for egg harvesting, with current estimates putting their population at around 100,000. | Mr Entsch said the number of saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory had grown substantially despite the provision for egg harvesting, with current estimates putting their population at around 100,000. |
| "Now there are more crocodiles [in the Northern Territory] than before when the 'white fella' came to Australia," said Mr Entsch. | "Now there are more crocodiles [in the Northern Territory] than before when the 'white fella' came to Australia," said Mr Entsch. |
| "The proliferation of the crocodile is huge and that in itself is causing a few problems." | "The proliferation of the crocodile is huge and that in itself is causing a few problems." |
| But conservationists say only a few crocodiles reach maturity in the wild and removing eggs could have a devastating impact. | But conservationists say only a few crocodiles reach maturity in the wild and removing eggs could have a devastating impact. |
| "We're playing God to a degree, there's a reason why their [survival rates] are so low, because only the strongest fittest baby will survive," Australia Zoo crocodile research team leader Toby Millyard said. | "We're playing God to a degree, there's a reason why their [survival rates] are so low, because only the strongest fittest baby will survive," Australia Zoo crocodile research team leader Toby Millyard said. |
| The wild world of crocodile farming | The wild world of crocodile farming |
| Warren Entsch said one of the more unusual encounters he had while crocodile farming was during a flight over Queensland in the 1980s. | Warren Entsch said one of the more unusual encounters he had while crocodile farming was during a flight over Queensland in the 1980s. |
| He was forced by the pilot to travel in the cargo bay alongside a bigger-than-expected haul of crocodiles. Three were tied up and covered with hessian bags because Mr Entsch miscalculated the number of transportation cages. | He was forced by the pilot to travel in the cargo bay alongside a bigger-than-expected haul of crocodiles. Three were tied up and covered with hessian bags because Mr Entsch miscalculated the number of transportation cages. |
| He told the BBC he was given a loaded handgun and warned not to shoot the fuel tank if the crocodiles escaped their makeshift restraints. | He told the BBC he was given a loaded handgun and warned not to shoot the fuel tank if the crocodiles escaped their makeshift restraints. |
| The animals became ill due to altitude sickness, leading them to vomit and defecate throughout the plane. "They went ballistic," Mr Entsch recalled. | The animals became ill due to altitude sickness, leading them to vomit and defecate throughout the plane. "They went ballistic," Mr Entsch recalled. |
| Crocodile farmer John Lever, from Koorana in Queensland, has been on multiple trips to gather eggs from crocodile nests. | Crocodile farmer John Lever, from Koorana in Queensland, has been on multiple trips to gather eggs from crocodile nests. |
| The 63-year-old said he had some close calls with crocodiles, but "it's a bit like having a near miss in your car, you go off and forget about it". | The 63-year-old said he had some close calls with crocodiles, but "it's a bit like having a near miss in your car, you go off and forget about it". |
| "You learn to manage behaviour about the nest, but when a big male challenges you at night and you're on a little boat on the river in the dark that can be pretty intimidating when they're 5m (16ft) and three quarters of a tonne (750kg)," Mr Lever said. | "You learn to manage behaviour about the nest, but when a big male challenges you at night and you're on a little boat on the river in the dark that can be pretty intimidating when they're 5m (16ft) and three quarters of a tonne (750kg)," Mr Lever said. |
| The estuarine crocodile is protected as a vulnerable species under current Queensland legislation, a point of conjecture on both sides of the debate. | The estuarine crocodile is protected as a vulnerable species under current Queensland legislation, a point of conjecture on both sides of the debate. |
| The state government says it will only back the egg harvesting plan if it does not threaten the animal's survival in the wild. | The state government says it will only back the egg harvesting plan if it does not threaten the animal's survival in the wild. |
| Mr Millyard said accurate surveys of crocodile populations had not been conducted for a decade and needed to be completed before a decision was made. | Mr Millyard said accurate surveys of crocodile populations had not been conducted for a decade and needed to be completed before a decision was made. |
| "Anything people say about crocodile numbers is really hearsay and opinion," he said. | "Anything people say about crocodile numbers is really hearsay and opinion," he said. |
| Egg harvest trial | Egg harvest trial |
| The final report into a trial live egg collection trial in Cape York - the largest and most intact tropical savanna left on Earth - is expected to be released by the Queensland Government in the coming weeks. | The final report into a trial live egg collection trial in Cape York - the largest and most intact tropical savanna left on Earth - is expected to be released by the Queensland Government in the coming weeks. |
| Robbie Morris, environmental manager of Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council in Cape York, said the study has shown there would be no impact on populations if a limited harvest of wild eggs are taken from nests that would already be washed away by flooding. | Robbie Morris, environmental manager of Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council in Cape York, said the study has shown there would be no impact on populations if a limited harvest of wild eggs are taken from nests that would already be washed away by flooding. |
| "Wild eggs could be taken and hatchlings reared without influencing the population," he told the Cairns Post. | "Wild eggs could be taken and hatchlings reared without influencing the population," he told the Cairns Post. |
| "If we do actually get the go ahead to do a wild egg harvest there would be scope for three or four permanent positions at the farm for local indigenous people." | "If we do actually get the go ahead to do a wild egg harvest there would be scope for three or four permanent positions at the farm for local indigenous people." |
| The Australian Conservation Foundation's Andrew Picone said a range of issues needed to be considered before allowing egg harvesting in Cape York. | The Australian Conservation Foundation's Andrew Picone said a range of issues needed to be considered before allowing egg harvesting in Cape York. |
| "At face value it presents some problems [but] if there's not any economic opportunities on the Cape [York] things like mining and other extractive industries will continue to be seen as the only option, and undermine tourism," Mr Picone told the BBC. | "At face value it presents some problems [but] if there's not any economic opportunities on the Cape [York] things like mining and other extractive industries will continue to be seen as the only option, and undermine tourism," Mr Picone told the BBC. |
| How do you harvest wild crocodile eggs? | |
| He agreed that expanding the farming industry in Queensland could also provide culturally appropriate opportunities for remote indigenous communities. | He agreed that expanding the farming industry in Queensland could also provide culturally appropriate opportunities for remote indigenous communities. |
| Northern Territory expansion | Northern Territory expansion |
| Meanwhile, the Northern Territory recently increased the number of eggs that can be harvested each year by 40% to 90,000 viable eggs. | Meanwhile, the Northern Territory recently increased the number of eggs that can be harvested each year by 40% to 90,000 viable eggs. |
| Its Wildlife Trade Management Plan also allows for the take of 1,000 live crocodiles. | Its Wildlife Trade Management Plan also allows for the take of 1,000 live crocodiles. |
| The government aims to double its crocodile products industry to A$50m ($35m; £24m) in four years. | The government aims to double its crocodile products industry to A$50m ($35m; £24m) in four years. |