Irwin absence boosts croc hunters' hopes
Posted Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:41am AEST
Safari hunt plan: Tourists could be allowed to shoot 25 big crocs every year (Reuters: David Gray)
A supporter of crocodile trophy hunting in the Northern Territory says a renewed debate on crocodile safaris could be "smoother" without influential conservationist Steve Irwin.
A proposal by the Northern Territory Government for tourists to hunt 25 big crocodiles a year was overturned by the Federal Environment Minister in 2005.
The same plan is back on the agenda under the new minister Malcolm Turnbull, who has put the proposal forward for public comment.
Irwin was a vocal opponent of the plan and Darwin crocodile scientist and hunt supporter Charlie Manolis believes it could garner more support without Irwin speaking out about it.
"Certainly Steve Irwin was very vocal against safari hunting and without that voice possibly things will be a little smoother," he said.
"But in the end the Government should be looking at it from the point of view of the scientific basis of the program."