Although the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is not confined to the Wet Tropics, it is by far the best known reptile of Tropical North Queensland. For an animal of such power and ability to exist over tens of millions of years, the crocodile is almost defenceless against the power that human fear creates.
There have been occasional attacks on people in developed and remote areas of Tropical North Queensland and these receive more than ample publicity. However, in many cases, such traumatic events have been the result of less than careful judgement. Cleaning fish on the edge of a river or near a boat ramp is to a crocodile what 'chumming' is to a shark. (Chum is a slaughterhouse concoction poured off the side of a boat to attract sharks.) Going for a midnight swim in an estuary is just as much a gamble as picking up a cobra and wrapping it around your neck! But such accidents have happened and these have a great impact on people's fear and hatred of the crocodile - an animal which deserves a healthy respect.
The estuarine crocodile is an ancient species and one which can live a long time - up to 100 years - but many of the oldest and largest crocs were hunted out by the 1970's. Crocodiles up to 8.4 metres (28 feet) long have been verified in the past but nowadays, most crocs only reach about 5 metres. They are fully protected (including their eggs) and regulated crocodile farms provide controlled products (meat and skins) for domestic and international trade.
There have been occasional attacks on people in developed and remote areas of Tropical North Queensland and these receive more than ample publicity. However, in many cases, such traumatic events have been the result of less than careful judgement. Cleaning fish on the edge of a river or near a boat ramp is to a crocodile what 'chumming' is to a shark. (Chum is a slaughterhouse concoction poured off the side of a boat to attract sharks.) Going for a midnight swim in an estuary is just as much a gamble as picking up a cobra and wrapping it around your neck! But such accidents have happened and these have a great impact on people's fear and hatred of the crocodile - an animal which deserves a healthy respect.
The estuarine crocodile is an ancient species and one which can live a long time - up to 100 years - but many of the oldest and largest crocs were hunted out by the 1970's. Crocodiles up to 8.4 metres (28 feet) long have been verified in the past but nowadays, most crocs only reach about 5 metres. They are fully protected (including their eggs) and regulated crocodile farms provide controlled products (meat and skins) for domestic and international trade.
0 comments:
Post a Comment