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Yes - no-one knows for certain how many crocodiles there are.  

We have legally promoted hunting in Australia and there is no guarantee that hunting is only restricted to feral animals.  I wonder how many crocs are shot just for fun.

The advertising is sickening - " a hunters paradise" - where they can shoot at anything that moves.

Australia’s Northern Territory, or the Top End as we locals call it, is some 1.4 million square kilometres in size. Or to put it another way, Italy, France & Spain all rolled into one. The NT is a HUNTERS’ and fishermens’ PARADISE, supporting vast populations of feral animals including WILD BOAR or pigs, WATER BUFFALO, scrub bulls & BANTENG CATTLE, plus huge numbers of MAGPIE GEESE & ducks. The Territory is a visually stunning landscape, VAST & sparsely populated, and for a large part still WILD & untouched. Flood plains, billabongs, big rivers, thundering waterfalls, rock escarpments, rain forest, prolific birdlife, brilliant sunsets, aboriginal culture & some of the most interesting & DIVERSE bunch of people you will EVER meet. This makes the Northern Territory a MUST visit destination at least a once in YOUR lifetime.

NB - Sorry - I won't post on the hunting board anymore - I know it's interfering with the flow of posts from those who enjoy this "sport.

I think someone said in the NT alone the numbers had grown to over 70,000. Thats a lot of crocs.That doesnt even touch upon numbers in QLD.

When Buffullo get out of hand they are culled (have nice sets of horns) as are any other species that damage the environment/lack habitat and food or threaten human life, altho the latter seems to be a rarity...as if human life is not important.
Culling is done mainly for humane purposes in the end and to protect our soils and vegetation etc. most of the damage is done by introduced species.

We are but one species that live on the planet and some of us think we are above animals..but we are animals..anything we do or dont do is legit in that context..

tallowood wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 7:56pm:


Yes tallowood..pple just naturally camp by water..its is easier. One shouldnt be afraid of being eaten by a croc just because they need water for camping and general puposes.

I wouldnt attempt to spear a croc thru the eye..not unless I was tired of living.

Its easier just to nuke/spork him ha ha.

oceanz wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 8:09pm:



People who camp near river in tropics are not smart and not only because of crocks but also much worth... mosquitoes and all other life forms who need water to drink.
They really should receive posthumous Darwinian evolutionary award instead of keep breeding, OR they have to learn quick-smart otherwise we all get unreal public liability insurance rates and I hate that more then killer crocks, snakes, spiders, mosquitoes and white ticks.

tallowood wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 8:41pm:


Camping in the tropics fullstop sucks Tallo..I hate those nasty little sandflies the most..the ones that live in the mangroves..They bring me up in the worst bumps..and itch like crazy.

Camped by the sea in Cooktown QLD for 6 months ( fishing the Barrier Reef ...working holiday) and I have to say I was miserable most of the time..

The only moments of light and frivolity was watching the nudists with really bad bodies ( I didnt do the whole "nuddy "thing..my togs was sufficiently fine..Im a bit shy) going about their business and the same who drank warm mango wine and gave themselves a wicked dose of the "runs"..no no I lie ..those same pple on magic mushroms were a sight to behold.

Signs erected at Great Sandy Straits and Fraser Island

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24844431-952,00.html

HOLIDAYMAKERS flocking to Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Strait are facing a bigger threat than bluebottle stings and sunburn.

They are for the first time also being officially warned to watch out for crocodiles.

The Environmental Protection Agency last month erected the warning signs after a 3.4m crocodile was reportedly sighted at Deep Creek on Fraser Island and a 2.5m crocodile was seen at Baffle Creek, about 150km north of Hervey Bay.

Long-time Maaroom resident and fisherman Stan Pappin  said he often saw saltwater crocs near his home, which overlooks Maaroom Creek inlet on the strait just south of Maryborough.

"Three months ago there were three crocodiles just here in the creek," he said. "The small ones were about 12ft (4m) and the large one about 16ft. They come and go. You just learn to live with them. When they're here you just don't go into the water.

"But they don't stay here all the time, they just come here to chase the barramundi."

An EPA spokesman said public safety was the agency's priority in managing crocodiles.

Warning signs are posted at Deep Creek and Fig Tree Creek, on the western shore of Fraser island, as well as at the barge departure points at Urangan, River Heads and Inskip Point.

"The nearest reported sighting (of a crocodile) has been at Fig Tree Creek on the west coast of Fraser Island," the EPA spokesman said. Information sheets also have been distributed to regional tourism organisations and commercial tour operators and other key stakeholders for Fraser Island, asking them to encourage people to exercise caution.

The EPA's official "Croc Watch" tally reports the most recent sighting of a crocodile on the Fraser Coast as being on December 2 on a small island in Kauri Creek on the western side of the Strait. This followed unconfirmed sightings of a 3m crocodile in the Mary River near Queens Park at Maryborough on November 5, a crocodile seen behind a boat near Bridge Creek on Fraser Island's western side on November 1-2 and a 1.5m-2m croc spotted on a creek at Dundowran Beach near Hervey Bay in March-April this year.

Swimming in a swamp is silly. Next they will want to stop natural selection.