Crocodile 'trophy hunting' safaris to be launched in Australia?
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Australia is considering a plan to allow the trophy hunting of saltwater crocodiles, according to officials.
The federal government rejected a similar proposal a few years ago, but are now revisiting it as crocodile numbers soar, and are throwing the issue open to public comment.
If the idea gets the green light, it will mean tourists and hunters will be given the opportunity to pay money to kill crocodiles, which the Northern Territory government says will provide jobs for Aborigines - with most crocodile habitats on their land - and boost tourism.
According to Gulf News, under the plan, 50 saltwater crocodiles would be available for safari hunting for a two-year trial period, taken from the annual sustainable harvest quota of 500 adults already allocated under an existing management programme.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson said: "We have been pushing the government to consider safari hunting for some time as a way to generate indigenous employment and I'm very pleased to see steps taken in this direction."
Saltwater crocodiles can grow up to seven metres long and weigh more than a tonne. They kill on average two people a year, and have been protected since the 1970s, seeing their population grow to over 150,000.
The plan is not supported by everyone, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has pointed out that it would take precision and skill to kill a crocodile humanely.
RSPCA Australia chief scientist Bidda Jones said: "There is no possible conservation benefit to be derived from the killing of crocodiles for trophies, nor does it provide a means of controlling problem crocodiles.
"This is nothing more than killing animals for entertainment and there is no justification for that."
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The world is full of beautiful but dangerous animals. See some of the deadliest below:
World's deadliest animals
- Cape Buffalo<p> Many people might not realise that the cape buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, and will react with force when it feels threatened. These beasts can weigh up to 1.5 tons and stand at 1.7 metres high; they're so intimidating that even lions don't usually consider them dinner. Cape buffalos will charge, and then gore its victim to death with its impressive horns.<br /> <strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 200 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> These animals will charge and gore their victims to death with their huge horns.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa</p>
- Venomous snakes<p> Out of the world's 2,000 species of snake, around 250 are thought to be capable of killing a man. The Asian cobra does not have the deadliest venom, but is believed to be responsible for the biggest portion of the thousands of snakebite deaths every year. In Africa, the black mamba is the largest venomous snake and, during an attack, can strike up to 12 times, each time delivering enough neuro and cardio-toxic venom to kill a dozen men within 1 hour.<br /> <strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 50-125,000 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> A snake will use its fangs to pierce the skin and inject its paralysing venom.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa, Asia, Australia, North America</p>
- Hippos<p> Although they might look cumbersome and cute, hippos are actually one of the most feared animals in Africa, and can outrun a human. When a male feels its territory is threatened, or a female thinks her offspring her in danger, these animals can be particularly dangerous. And with huge teeth and mouth that can open four feet wide, it's a good idea to steer clear.<br /> <strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 100-150 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Hippos will charge, trample and gore its victims, and have been known to upturn boats and canoes without warning.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa</p>
- Box Jellyfish<p> Box jellyfish can have up to 60 tentacles as long as 15 feet. And each tentacle contains enough venom to kill 50 humans, making it one of the most venomous marine creatures in the world. If stung, a box jellyfish can kill a man within minutes.<br /> <strong>Kills: </strong>An estimated 100 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Jellyfish use their tentacles to pump venom and paralyse its prey. Deaths in humans are usually a result of cardiac arrest.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.</p>
- Mosquitos<p> Apart from humans, the mosquito is the deadliest creature on the planet. It kills millions of people every year through the spread of diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Many of the malaria victims are children under the age of five.<br /> <strong>Kills: </strong>Two to three million people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Female mosquitos pierce the skin with serrated mouth parts, and inject a saliva with a thinning agent to liquidise the blood.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Worldwide, more harmful in Africa, Asia and North America</p>
- Sharks<p> The great white shark, which can grow up to six metres in length and weigh up to five tons, seems to have the most ferocious reputation. But, while they have been known to attack humans, most of these incidents are thought to be 'test bites', where the animal is deciphering whether he wants to eat you. And, generally, they humans are not on the menu. It is thought the aggressive bull shark is responsible for the most attacks on people. Out of the 360 shark species, only four are known killers: the great white, the bull, tiger, and the oceanic white tip.<br /> <strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 100 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Sharks use their razor-sharp teeth to rip chunks out of its victims. Great whites usually take a big single bite, drag their victims into deeper waters, and wait until the prey bleeds to death before they eat it.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Florida, Australia, Hawaii and South Africa.</p>
- Bears<p> The are lots of different species of bear, but the polar, black and grizzly are the deadliest. Native to the Arctic, polar bears could decapitate a human being with one swipe of their massive paws. Bears generally attack when they are hungry, so it's a good idea to keep food away from your camp.<br /> <strong>Kills: </strong>An estimated 5 to 10 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Bear will use their teeth and claws to maul and trample their victims.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> North America, Canada, North Pole, and Russia.</p>
- Saltwater crocodiles<p> Crocodiles have been around for 200 million years, and are fearsome predators. The saltwater crocodile, or saltie, is the largest living reptile in the world, and can grow up to 21ft long and weigh 1.6 tons. These animals can run extremely fast on land, and, in the water, can swim as fast as dolphin. Many fatalities occur when people are washing or gathering food near river banks.<br /> <strong>Kills: </strong>An estimated 600-800 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Crocodiles will grab their victims with terrifying speed, and often launch into a 'death roll', weakening its prey, dragging it under water and drowning the victim.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa and Australia</p>
- Scorpions<p> Out of the 1,500 species of scorpion, the African spitting scorpion is thought to be the most deadly, and can spray its venom up to a metre. Arounf 25 species of scorpion are thought to be deadly to humans.<br /> <strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 800-2,000 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Scorpions use their tail stingers to paralyse their prey with venom.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Worldwide; particularly Africa, the Americas and Central Asia.</p>
- Elephants<p> Weighing in at up to eight tons, although beautiful creatures, elephants can be lethal. African elephants in particular can be aggressive, especially older bulls and young males. These creatures, unsurprisingly, are more aggressive in areas where poaching is rife or when their habitat is threatened.<br /> <strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 300-500 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique: </strong>Most human deaths are result of the elephant trampling on its victim.<br /> <strong>Lives in: </strong>Africa and India</p>
- Big cats<p> African lions are the biggest of the big cats, and are known to kill around 70 people in Tanzania alone every year. With the destruction of their habitat, human attacks by leopards in India, and the North American mountain lion are thought to be on the increase.<br /> <strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 800 people a year.<br /> <strong>Deadly technique:</strong> African lions will often use strangulation to kill their prey, while tigers will attack from the back and aim for the jugular, and mountain lions will maul their victims.<br /> <strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa, North America, and India</p>
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