The Northern Territory Government is looking for someone to take 250 crocodiles off its hands. You’ll need to pick them up yourself. And they’re some of the most dangerous animals the Top End produces.
Deemed “problem crocodiles” by the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission, these are crocs that have attacked or acted aggressively towards people, or moved into an area that is a threat to human safety.
“On average, 185 problem crocodiles are removed from Darwin Harbour each year. Smaller numbers of problem crocodiles are also removed from Katherine River (an average of ten per year) and other locations in the Top End each year,” the NT’s crocodile management plan outlines.
In all, there’s about 250 such crocs that have been captured by baited traps or rangers over the past year.
Now, they’re set to be auctioned off as the government opens the tender process for organisations or individuals to buy them, the ABC reports.
The tender winner(s) will have to show they can treat the crocodiles humanely, and be able to pick up the crocodiles all by themselves. If you pick up the tender for all 250, it’ll be quite the trip.
Crocodile skin is highly prized for its use in several fashion products, including belts, boots, and bags.
According to the ABC, the quality of the “problem croc” skin is low, which means it’s destined for a domestic market rather than overseas.
Animal rights groups generally oppose the killing of animals for their skin, and have protested the use of crocodile skin by fashion giants like Hermes and Louis Vuitton.
In a statement on its website, RSPCA Australia says it “is opposed to the use of any animal where the purpose of their death is primarily to produce a non-essential luxury item like fur or skin. In Australia, the only animals farmed for their skin are crocodiles.”
A protest against the use of crocodile skin in fashion by PETA outside the Hermes store in NYC
This year, the NT Government created a new trade management plan to help boost the crocodile product trade.
The five-year Saltwater Crocodile Wildlife Trade Management Plan, which began at the start of the year, allowed for a 40 percent increase in the annual harvest of eggs and crocodiles for use in the crocodile product export industry.