Living with crocodiles

I WISH to comment on the issue raised in The National last Thursday (March 8) by T.C. Ila, of Waiori Tauna, who made reference to a similar article published on Feb 5 about a six-metre crocodile that was killed in Indonesia.
It should be known that crocodiles are the last remnant evidence of the dinosaur.
They are large animals and are top of the food chain in the domains that they live or exist in. Saltwater crocs are aggressive animals. Importantly, crocs are territorial – if you are fishing or hunting in their territory, they will attack.
They will also attack during monsoonal season when they are looking for a mating partner or when defending their nests from intruders.
I did a crocodile night monitoring programme at Imila River, including the eastern sea board and its tributaries from Kemp Welsh River to as far as Robinson River in Abau, in the late ’80s.
Crocodiles in Papua New Guinea are protected by law under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and are regulated by the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority.
Hunting, taking or killing of crocodiles for trade must be authorised through a permit from the Conservator of Fauna.
The killing of large crocodiles is also prohibited unless there is a threat and, again, approval should be sought from the conservator for its removal or relocation from the wild.
I understand there is now concern for safety, but until animal behaviour and its territorial existence is understood, people and communities will continue have mixed feelings about sharing space with wild animals.
If the communities require expert advice, check my profile at www.linkedin.com/in/godfrid-solmu-69b3875

Croco-ologist
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