Calls for crocodile culling mount in Australia

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Fears that crocodile numbers have exploded innorthern Australia, with more sightings off surf beaches, inswimming holes and near towns, have sparked calls for the re-introduction of crocodile culling.But a new saltwater crocodile conservation plan for the tropicalstate of Queensland proposes instead to slap heavy fines up toA$7,500 (US$6,000) on swimmers caught in crocodile waters, as ameans of separating man from man-eater."It's a classic example of lateral thinking," Queensland politicianBob Katter said on Thursday in ridiculing the plan."Instead of removing the crocs, they're going to remove humanbeings," said Katter, who believes crocodile culling should be re-introduced as the prehistoric-looking creatures venture closer topopulated towns and beaches.Commercial hunting of crocodiles was banned in the 1970s, and manypeople in northern Queensland believe crocodile numbers haveexploded, saying crocodiles now cruise beaches, boat harbors andfreshwater swimming holes used by locals and tourists.Surf lifesavers at Forrest Beach near Townsville in northernQueensland have spotted six crocodiles in the water since December."I think that there should be a bounty paid on crocodiles for aperiod of time and in selected areas and I think that there shouldbe proper armaments provided to people to be able to do that cull,"Katter told local radio recently."Surely people have the right to protect their kids from a dangerouspredatory animal," he said."Action needs to be taken to cull them and push them out of settledareas. Shoot the bastards. The people who tell us we can't shootthem would die of fright if they saw one." Another Queenslandpolitician, national Senator Ian Macdonald, who also backs crocodileculling, said the new conservation plan favored animals over humans."I'm a great conservationist, but when it comes to people's lives asopposed to an explosion in crocodile population then I will alwayspick people's lives. There will be a tragedy," Macdonald said.But the Queensland Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr rejectedfears that crocodile numbers had exploded."It's more likely that more people are visiting or moving into crochabitat, and so more people are noticing crocs," she said this weekin releasing the conservation plan."Saltwater crocodiles are a vulnerable species with only about30,000 believed to be left in the wild in Queensland." But somecrocodile experts estimate there could be 65,000 to 70,000crocodiles in Queensland state.Nelson-Carr said the conservation plan was a balanced approach tomanaging crocodiles."In developing this plan, the Environmental Protection Agency aimedto get the balance right between public safety, sustainablecommercial use of saltwater crocodiles and protecting these ancient,vulnerable animals in the wild," she said."Crocodiles are one of Australia's native predators that keep theecosystem functioning and without them, Queensland would be a verydifferent place."