Crocodile crisis looms large

THE state government is facing an emergency about what to do with rogue crocodiles.

Farms and zoos are running out of room to house large and aggressive reptiles.

With the death of a spear fisherman last weekend rangers were forced to hunt down and kill the 4m culprit on Tuesday night.

Last year another reptile killed a woman swimming in the Daintree.

There have been too many nearmisses.

Dogs are being targeted and killed on popular tourist beaches.

It doesn’t help that irresponsible Innisfail teenager Lee de Paauw, in a stupid act to impress a female backpacker, dived into the Johnstone River and was attacked by a crocodile.

He is lucky to be alive, surgeons saved his arm and the entire episode cost taxpayers thousands of dollars in medical help.

The statistics are growing alarmingly and it’s time the government stop pandering to green interests.

Crocodiles are threatening our way of life. Crocodiles are killing and maiming people.

How many deaths will it take for this government to act and sanction a culling program?

It’s not as though the government can build a crocodile “prison”.

It would cost millions of dollars to construct, staff, maintain and feed the reptiles.

It would be far cheaper to allow culling based on a safari model as has been suggested.

The animal is not in extinction and shooters should be allowed to target larger and dangerous crocodiles

The current program is failing and the government must act now. Nick Dalton nick.dalton@news.com.au