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| Down Under |
| Invasion of the Surfer Crocs |
| 2007-07-22 |
| The northeast coast of Australia is facing an explosion in its population of saltwater crocodiles, which are protected by law but are becoming a menace to swimmers, surfers and the inhabitants of some towns’ outer suburbs. The problem is so serious that there are calls for the country’s strict gun laws to be relaxed and hunters to be given open season on crocodiles. Bob Katter, an independent MP, said that crocodile numbers had reached “plague proportions” and the huge reptiles were moving into places where they had never been seen before. “This is unprecedented in human history,” he said. “People should be armed. What do they want us to do - knock the crocs on the head with a hammer?” Locals have reported man-eating crocodiles basking near popular swimming spots and boat ramps. In Cairns and Townsville they have even been seen sunning themselves on surf beaches. “There are some 50,000 people living on river banks and shoreline between Townsville and Cairns. If you’re going into these areas you really need to take some sort of firearm to protect yourselves,” Katter said. According to Peter Guivarra, an Aboriginal leader, officials conducting a night survey along a five-mile stretch of Tentpole Creek counted “more than 500 sets of eyes. That’s a lot and absolute evidence that culling is now needed”. The Australian saltwater crocodile often grows to 15ft in length and can weigh a third of a ton. An endangered species in the 1960s, its numbers have reached levels not seen since the first British settlers arrived in 1788... |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #10 Crocodiles are magnificent creatures, I mean watched from the safety of my home on discovery channel. |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2007-07-22 14:48 |
| #9 Maybe start a "Hug a Croc" campaign. Or a rumor that a true believer in Islam has no fear of crocs, because Allah will protect him, and he must prove his faith by petting them on the head. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-07-22 13:22 |
| #8 Besoeker beat me to it. Australia's luggage industry should get involved. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-22 12:44 |
| #7 Unfortunately the area has also become home to many rabid Greenies who value animal life more than human. Feed them to the crocs. Then cull the crocs. Two problems solved. No charge, this time. |
| Posted by: Natural Law 2007-07-22 09:31 |
| #6 Territorial creatures have to migrate to preserve predator space. Do I have to tell the Aussies that a simple cull from the margins won't effect preservation areas? A gun won't protect a swimmer. "Salties" attack from below, and then drag the swimmer under until they drown. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2007-07-22 07:33 |
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| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-07-22 07:20 |
| #4 twobyfour, I'm still optimistic there may be a cure but the foaming at the mouth and madness is hard to take at times. I just hope the cure doesn't involve them losing one of their children but, as with the WOT, unless it affects you personally most people don't give a bugger. |
| Posted by: Gladys 2007-07-22 05:36 |
| #3 Gladys, many rabid Greenies... How about putting them out of their misery too? |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-07-22 01:52 |
| #2 Heh.. My mate and I are always out in the scrub on our days off with our trust 303, shotgun and other toys. Yes plenty of crocs around but I hate to see a free for all shoot as there won't be any left for us.. |
| Posted by: NT Man 2007-07-22 00:39 |
| #1 The problem is so serious that there are calls for the countryÂ’s strict gun laws to be relaxed and hunters to be given open season on crocodiles. Oh please, please, please. Bob's my federal representative. My children are now banned from the local swimming hole even though it is freshwater and in a beautiful rainforest setting because the farmer next door spotted a huge salty in the river a few days ago. There are so many of them that they are being pushed up river into previously non-croc areas. Besides, I'd love to shoot a crocodile. Unfortunately the area has also become home to many rabid Greenies who value animal life more than human. |
| Posted by: Gladys 2007-07-22 00:25 |