DARWIN/SYDNEY – A saltwater crocodile, featuring a mottled yellow-green and brown coloration, lies partially submerged in the murky depths of an Australian river, with only its ochre eyes and pointed snout visible as it surveys its surroundings for potential prey.
Fifteen years ago, when a crocodile killed Charlene O’Sullivan’s daughter, her immediate reaction was to advocate for the extermination or capture of all crocodiles around her home city of Darwin, aiming to protect others from similar tragedy. Today, however, she favors a more educational approach to safety.
“I initially probably supported removing every crocodile,” O’Sullivan reflected, recalling the incident in which her daughter Briony, then 11 years old, was taken while swimming with friends in 2009. “But you remove one crocodile from a creek or a waterway, another one’s just going to move in,” she noted, emphasizing the need for respect and awareness of the environment. “We need to think smart about what sort of situation you put yourself in.”
O’Sullivan’s change of perspective reflects a broader discussion occurring in northern Australia, where the near eradication of saltwater crocodiles due to unrestricted hunting practices by 1970 was followed by stringent conservation measures that have led to a resurgence in their population.
In response to the 18 crocodile attacks reported nationwide in 2023, five of which were fatal, authorities are cautiously exploring various strategies aimed at reducing incidents. These efforts must balance public safety with the protection of a species integral to the economy and cultural identity of the Top End, especially given the significance of crocodiles to the Northern Territory’s tourism industry, valued at A$1.5 billion ($980 million).
Recently, tragic incidents involving crocodiles claimed the lives of an Aboriginal girl in the Northern Territory and a doctor in Queensland. The government has now proposed a modest culling measure, looking to remove 1,200 crocodiles annually from an estimated population of 100,000 to stabilize numbers that had previously dropped to below 3,000 due to hunting in the mid-20th century.
In Queensland, where around 30,000 crocodiles reside, authorities have opted for non-lethal methods, such as shooting the reptiles with rubber bullets, instead of heeding a previous recommendation from the chief scientist that called for the capture or elimination of larger individuals.
Hugh Possingham, a former chief scientist in Queensland, expressed the deleterious effects of allowing crocodile populations to expand unchecked, warning that such a situation could lead to fatalities. “Wiping all the crocodiles out is ridiculous as well,” he stated. “You’re between a rock and a hard place.”
Meanwhile, conservation groups in Western Australia, which is home to thousands of saltwater crocodiles, have dismissed any plans for culling, citing a lack of scientific evidence linking culling to a reduced risk of attacks.