Having a pet crocodile in the backyard sounds like a far-fetched Australian fairy tale – like riding a kangaroo to school or the existence of grizzly bears, but in the Northern Territory (NT Territory), it’s a reality. Today (Saturday), local elections were held in the region and the right to keep the exotic animal as a household member became the subject of considerable public controversy.
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This is one of the last places in Australia where crocodile keeping is allowed, but the government is concerned for the welfare of both humans and the reptiles. The opposition Liberal Party in the country, however, expressed its support for the issue and promised to re-examine the “hasty” decision, if it wins.
About 250,000 people live in the NT region, but relatively few of them own crocodiles. The Office of the Minister of the Environment stated that they cannot provide an exact figure, because the government is in the position of managing elections, but previous estimates stated that the number of permit holders is around 100.
The regulations have long dictated strict conditions regarding where and under what conditions the animals can be kept. For example, they can live in urban areas until they reach 60 cm in length (usually at the age of one year) at which point they must be surrendered to the authorities or moved to a property outside the city limits. However, under these rules, owners were not required to have special training or knowledge to keep in animals
NT Environment Minister Kate Worden said the decision was made “following public consultation” and “taking into account concerns for personal safety and animal welfare”. The existing certificates will remain valid, but the transfer of certificates will not be possible. “Let’s remember that this is a super predator and probably not one that is better kept in captivity,” Minister Vardan told reporters, adding that there have been cases of alligators attacking their owners in the area.
The new rules bring the NT in line with every other state and territory in Australia – except, curiously, Victoria, which is outside the crocodile’s favorable climate. Animal activists, who pushed for the change, say this is a major victory.
While some people who keep crocodiles “may have good intentions”, no wild animal can fully satisfy its needs in captivity, says Olivia Charlton, of World Animal Protection. “There is no way to recreate the space and freedom these alligators would have in the wild, especially given that they live up to 70 years,” she said in a statement.
Charles Gilliam, of the NT State Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the dangerous nature of the crocodiles also made it very difficult for authorities to regulate the program and ensure the reptiles had an acceptable standard of living and medical care. “I only know one vet willing to work with alligators,” Gilliam said.
Alligator owners say they had no idea the change was coming and are stressed about what may now happen to their pets. They accuse the government of hiding the change in a wider crocodile management plan, to avoid real consultation on the issue. Opposition environment spokeswoman Jo Hersey said the “State Liberal Party supports the rights of territories to keep alligators as pets under the permit system” and promised the party would review the rules if elected.