Salt Water Crocodile Policy
Preamble
In 1981, following decades of intensive hunting for skins, fewer than 3000 saltwater crocodiles Crocodylus porosus remained in the wild in the NT. At this time stringent conservation measures were put in place and since then numbers have increased to more than 75 000 individuals.
The Northern Territory population of C. porosus is the largest in Australia and is listed as a species of least concern under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. In Western Australia C. porosus is listed as Other Specially Protected Fauna under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WA) while it is classified as threatened fauna in Queensland. C porosus is not listed as threatened under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (cth).
The Australian, Papua New Guinean and Indonesian populations of C. porosus are listed on Appendix II of CITES. All other populations of C. porosus are included on Appendix I of CITES.
Policy
The conservation management of the saltwater crocodile by the Parks and Wildlife Service will embrace:
- The maintenance of a large and viable population of saltwater crocodiles living in its natural state.
- The promotion of the saltwater crocodile as an economically valuable natural resource and ensure that it is used at sustainable levels.
- Respecting the intrinsic cultural values of the saltwater crocodile.
- The management of saltwater crocodile densities in areas where there is a high risk of adverse interaction with people and their livestock and pets.
- The provision of crocodile awareness and interpretive material in appropriate areas of Parks, Reserves and other areas under the care, control and management of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the NT.
Collaboration with other government agencies, business and industry in making Northern Territorians and their visitors fully aware of this magnificent natural asset and encourage them to take a responsible approach to nature-based activities within the home range of saltwater crocodiles.