Australians call for crocodile culling to prevent fatalities

With the population of crocodiles tripling in the last three decades in western Australia, the local population have sought selective culling and large-scale removal of the dangerous reptiles to prevent human fatalities.

The local population in Kimberley region are seeking to review crocodile management as some locals seeking culling of the reptiles.

Broome Deputy Shire President Harold Tracey said it was time for a large-scale removal of reptiles from waterways around Broome, Derby and Kununurra.

“I think it’s only a matter of time before we do have a fatality, purely from croc numbers and they’re getting a lot <g data-gr-id="23">more bold</g>,” he said.

“We’ve got to keep in mind we can’t keep putting human life at risk, or putting a crocodile’s life as more important than a human life,” Tracey said.

Tracey said the highly divisive debate over shark culling in other parts of Australia showed why a mature, informed debate was needed.

Currently, the Department of Parks and Wildlife only traps and removes or shoots dead a crocodile if it is behaving aggressively in popular fishing or swimming areas.

East Kimberley district manager Luke Bentley said there were no plans to change the policy.