Post by Viper on Jul 8, 2006 22:49:51 GMT -5
Irwin's crocodile letters revealed
Ashleigh Wilson and Michael McKinnon
June 05, 2006
CRIKEY! The nation's tourist leaders don't know how lucky they are. But they should thank Steve Irwin for helping to shoot down a move he claimed would have led to an indefinite global boycott of Australia.
If Irwin didn't get his way -- that is, if the federal Government allowed limited crocodile safari hunting in the Northern Territory -- the celebrity conservationist warned that grave consequences would follow.
"The tourism industry here in Australia will suffer a far worse and lengthier blow than both SARS and terrorism put together," Irwin wrote in a letter to the Government.
"Firstly, we will be boycotted and targeted by the UK, Europe, Singapore and the USA. Then other nations will follow.
"This will have a devastating impact in our tourism industry indefinitely."
Irwin's letters, obtained by The Australian under Freedom of Information laws, give an insight into the world famous croc hunter's thoughts on allowing trophy hunters into the Top End.
In April, The Weekend Australian revealed that Environment Minister Ian Campbell was seriously considering the proposal last year. But after Irwin wrote to him and then took him on a tour of Cape York peninsula, the Government knocked back the plan to allow wealthy tourists to shoot 25 of the up to 600 problem crocodiles culled each year in the Northern Territory.
But, until now, what Irwin actually said remained a secret.
On May 30 last year, Irwin wrote to Senator Campbell saying he could provide "reams of papers and letters tearing the safari and trophy hunting of crocodiles to pieces".
While noting that the RSPCA, David Attenborough and others opposed safari hunting, he said policing the trade would be impossible. "The illegal trade in wildlife products is second only to drugs."
He said crocodiles were difficult to kill and retrieve and that "even seasoned veteran croc shooters" could miss and "guaranteeing a kill is impossible". Maimed crocodiles actively hunt around human populations, he said.
Irwin claimed it would be hard for Australia to lobby against Japanese whaling if it allowed crocodiles to be shot.
Irwin's wife, Terri, weighed in with a letter of her own, referring to Canada's experience with grizzly bears and the success of "alligator-related tourism" in the southern US.
In an earlier letter to Senator Campbell's predecessor, Rod Kemp, on January 21, 2004, Irwin signed off by saying he was staying out of the public debate despite pressure to make his views known.
"However, please don't hesitate to contact me if our crocodiles need me to be a little louder," he said. "I am pretty sure, given my current circumstances and the media climate, that I'd get a guernsey. Thanks Mate, Steve Irwin."
Ashleigh Wilson and Michael McKinnon
June 05, 2006
CRIKEY! The nation's tourist leaders don't know how lucky they are. But they should thank Steve Irwin for helping to shoot down a move he claimed would have led to an indefinite global boycott of Australia.
If Irwin didn't get his way -- that is, if the federal Government allowed limited crocodile safari hunting in the Northern Territory -- the celebrity conservationist warned that grave consequences would follow.
"The tourism industry here in Australia will suffer a far worse and lengthier blow than both SARS and terrorism put together," Irwin wrote in a letter to the Government.
"Firstly, we will be boycotted and targeted by the UK, Europe, Singapore and the USA. Then other nations will follow.
"This will have a devastating impact in our tourism industry indefinitely."
Irwin's letters, obtained by The Australian under Freedom of Information laws, give an insight into the world famous croc hunter's thoughts on allowing trophy hunters into the Top End.
In April, The Weekend Australian revealed that Environment Minister Ian Campbell was seriously considering the proposal last year. But after Irwin wrote to him and then took him on a tour of Cape York peninsula, the Government knocked back the plan to allow wealthy tourists to shoot 25 of the up to 600 problem crocodiles culled each year in the Northern Territory.
But, until now, what Irwin actually said remained a secret.
On May 30 last year, Irwin wrote to Senator Campbell saying he could provide "reams of papers and letters tearing the safari and trophy hunting of crocodiles to pieces".
While noting that the RSPCA, David Attenborough and others opposed safari hunting, he said policing the trade would be impossible. "The illegal trade in wildlife products is second only to drugs."
He said crocodiles were difficult to kill and retrieve and that "even seasoned veteran croc shooters" could miss and "guaranteeing a kill is impossible". Maimed crocodiles actively hunt around human populations, he said.
Irwin claimed it would be hard for Australia to lobby against Japanese whaling if it allowed crocodiles to be shot.
Irwin's wife, Terri, weighed in with a letter of her own, referring to Canada's experience with grizzly bears and the success of "alligator-related tourism" in the southern US.
In an earlier letter to Senator Campbell's predecessor, Rod Kemp, on January 21, 2004, Irwin signed off by saying he was staying out of the public debate despite pressure to make his views known.
"However, please don't hesitate to contact me if our crocodiles need me to be a little louder," he said. "I am pretty sure, given my current circumstances and the media climate, that I'd get a guernsey. Thanks Mate, Steve Irwin."
