DARWIN/SYDNEY – A saltwater crocodile, characterized by its mottled yellow-green and brown skin, lies mostly submerged in muddy waters of an Australian river, with only its ochre eyes and triangular snout visible as it searches for prey.
When Charlene O’Sullivan’s daughter was killed by a crocodile 15 years ago, she initially believed all crocodiles near her home in Darwin should be removed to prevent similar tragedies. However, her perspective has shifted towards emphasizing education rather than eradication.
“I probably supported removing every crocodile at first,” said O’Sullivan, whose daughter Briony was just 11 when she was taken while swimming with friends in 2009. “But if you take one crocodile from an area, another will simply take its place. We need to acknowledge the environment we share, understand that they are present, and be cautious about our activities.”
O’Sullivan’s transformation reflects a broader discussion in Australia’s tropical regions, where unrestricted hunting had nearly wiped out saltwater crocodiles by the 1970s, but conservation efforts have led to a resurgence in their population.
Authorities are currently exploring various strategies—ranging from proactive messaging to the physical removal of crocodiles—to lower the incidence of attacks, which have reached 18 this year across Australia, including five fatalities.
The challenge lies in mitigating attacks without jeopardizing the species that plays a significant role in the economy and identity of the Northern Territory, which boasts a tourism industry worth A$1.5 billion (approximately $980 million).
Recent incidents included the deaths of an Aboriginal girl in the Northern Territory and a doctor in Queensland. Consequently, a modest plan was proposed in April to cull 1,200 crocodiles annually from a population estimated at 100,000, aiming to maintain numbers reminiscent of the pre-hunting era.
Queensland, with an estimated population of 30,000 crocodiles, has indicated it will attempt to manage the population by using non-lethal rubber bullets rather than implementing culling measures previously suggested by its chief scientist.
Hugh Possingham, the former chief scientist in Queensland, warned that leaving crocodiles unchecked could result in more fatalities. “Totally eliminating crocodiles is also out of the question,” he stated. “We’re caught in a difficult situation.”
Meanwhile, conservation authorities in Western Australia, which is home to thousands of crocodiles, have dismissed the idea of culling, as there is no scientific backing indicating that it would effectively reduce the number of attacks.