Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site (e.g., cultivated wild specimens, eggs/juveniles from the wild)
Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation (e.g., activities such as closed-cycle breeding, horticulture or aquaculture)
Listed as Vulnerable by the Australian State of Queensland
Additional Details (if available)
but according to the paper, harvesting is not actually a threat, at least not anymore, as it is carried out following strict regulations and guidelines, and population sizes have actually been increasing for the past 40 years.
Population Trend
Increasing
Sub-national Level
Formal sub-national protection in place
Additional Details (if available)
Human-crocodile conflict is also an important component, with crocodiles sometimes attacking cattle, and otherwise compete for resources.
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Crocodylus porosus
Common Name(s)
Saltwater crocodile
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
Details of parts/products taken
The crocodiles are mostly harvested for their skin and meat primarily, as well as for other products such as skulls as souvenirs, feet as backscratchers, etc.
Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Unknown/not recorded
Purpose of Use
Income generation from trade at individual or household or community
Cultural/spiritual
Additional Details (if available)
Saltwater crocodiles are recognized as a valuable commercial resource, generating income and employment to local communities, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. The economic value of the crocodile farming industry to the NT as a whole has been estimated to be AUD $107,000,000 per year (approximately USD 74,600,000). Involvement in the crocodile harvest and management builds on and strengthens cultural and traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous people, enabling them to stay “on country” and use traditional skills rather than needing to move to urban areas for jobs.
What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
National / local government
International private sector
If more than one box ticked, please provide more details
local people are involved in harvesting, ranching, and production, while the local government is responsible for regulations, and international private sector is the destination for the majority of the primary products produced.
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Yes
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is improving the status (e.g., population is increasing or stabilising, extraction effort OR catch per unit effort is decreasing or stable)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Wild crocodile populations have steadily increased in the NT under sustainable harvesting. Extensive wetlands are now highly valued and protected by landowners to ensure an annual supply of eggs. This motivates not only habitat retention, but active habitat management for crocodiles through means such as control of feral pigs and invasive plants that damage wetland habitats. Further, the involvement of Indigenous ranger groups in harvest programs, as both harvesters and regulators, has built and strengthened community-based wildlife management on Aboriginal lands.
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Yes, it is having a positive effect (e.g., reduced competition, reduced risk of hybridization)
Yes, positive (e.g., it increases / retains land area for conservation)
Yes, considered sustainable
Additional Details (if available)
Extensive wetlands are now highly valued and protected by landowners to ensure an annual supply of eggs. This motivates not only habitat retention, but active habitat management for crocodiles through means such as control of feral pigs and invasive plants that damage wetland habitats.
Additional Details (if available)
Extensive wetlands are now highly valued and protected by landowners to ensure an annual supply of eggs. This motivates not only habitat retention, but active habitat management for crocodiles through means such as control of feral pigs and invasive plants that damage wetland habitats.
Details of assessment carried out
Findings in terms of population sizes: Since the introduction of protection measures and subsequent sustainable use programmes, all populations have recovered significantly.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
Crocodile harvest and the ranching industry also provides local communities with significant opportunities to learn important skills and knowledge on the species and its management.
Involvement in the crocodile harvest and management builds on and strengthens cultural and traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous people, enabling them to stay “on country” and use traditional skills rather than needing to move to urban areas for jobs.
Saltwater crocodiles are dangerous predators, and regularly kill both people and livestock. Without the crocodile industry and the jobs and other social benefits it provides, local communities would be much less tolerant to crocodiles being around human settlements.
Has any assessment of socio-economic sustainability been recorded
No assessment recorded
Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Strong community governance/institutions/rights for wildlife management
Present
Supportive policy and legislative framework
Present
Adequate capacity to implement and enforce governance arrangements
Present
Good alignment of legal protections with local cultural values and traditional
Present
Support from NGOs
Absent
Support from Government
Present
High financial returns from use
Present
Abundant population of target species
Present
Biological characteristics of target species
Present
Capacity building of community
Present
Establishment and implementation of species and/or area management plan
Present
Effective private sector approach engagement through certification
CITES (2019) CITES & Livelihoods Case Study 2019: Saltwater crocodile harvest and ranching in Australia’s Northern Territory.
The Australian populations were severely depleted by uncontrolled hunting during the 1940s to 1960s. The incentives generated by the wild harvest are a key factor in winning public and political tolerance for re-establishment of a large and healthy wild population, and hence a significant contribution to conservation.
Harvest of crocodiles from the wild in the NT primarily involves collecting wild eggs for ranching (i.e. incubation and rearing in captivity within crocodile farms), with a limited direct harvest of sub- adult/adults. Most crocodiles are slaughtered and processed locally at a specialist abattoir and the skins are exported with CITES tags for further processing overseas
Is there any gender/age specificity in the various roles
Yes
Women are involved in most aspects of the harvesting of saltwater crocodiles in Australia. While female egg collectors are uncommon, a substantial number of women (including Aboriginal) work in hatcheries or farms, constituting an estimated 20% of workers. Women are also involved in the processing of captive crocodiles for skins and meat, and in the production and sales of crocodile skin products.
How many of these local jobs accure to the following categories?
How many people outside the local area are employed
Is there any evidence of other economic benefits associated with this use beyond direct income and jobs