A recent post on this forum by the renown Cascadians told you about the aboriginal child whose leg caught a large crocodile in a Northern Territory creek. She's doing well and a news TV broadcast showed a happy family after they had feasted on the offender.

STORY LINK

Stuffed crocs for sale on the net
Source: AAP
Published: Tuesday February 15, 1:27 PM

Huge stuffed crocodiles up to four metres long and other crocodile products are being sold on the Internet.

Cooktown-based croc hunter 'Dundee' Mick Pitman has set up a website featuring his wares and hopes to attract customers worldwide.

Mr Pitman's company the Cape York Crocodile Consultancy has a commercial wildlife licence to process crocodiles for the retail market.

The tanning process is carried out in the traditional American Indian style using a natural bark solution.

'It makes the stuffies really life-like,' Mr Pitman said today.

For crocodiles more than three metres in length, Mr Pitman, who also has a plumbing business, charges $1,000 for every 30cm. He also sells backpacks and belts, in fact he promises to make anything to order.

Stock for curing and stuffing is obtained from the Hartley Creek Crocodile Farm near Cairns.

'They only need to keep brood stock and there's an excess of three to four metre male animals,' Mr Pitman said.'

There has been a crocodile population explosion in Queensland's far north, prompting calls from the local Cook Shire Council to lift a ban on crocodile hunting to attract tourists and create jobs.

Mr Pitman said crocodile hunting in the Cook Shire would offer a good commercial proposition.

'But only accredited people can hunt crocs,' he said. 'It needs to be done with traditional spears or hook methods.'

Mr Pitman said any culling of crocs for tourists should be done humanely by a professional.

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Comment:
I table this article in support of stuffing crocodiles. Any remarks from you Squirrel Hunter?

Regards from OZ

-- Pieter (zaadz@icisp.net.au), February 15, 2000

Answers

Ahem. I should say that I support stuffing crocs when they bite young children. The offending croc that did actually bite the child got roasted and when the aboriginal family was asked by the TV interviewer everyone giggled.

Regards,

-- Pieter (zaadz@icisp.net.au), February 15, 2000.

What a crock

-- (dundee@g'day.mates), February 15, 2000.

Well I see that Mick is a supporter of sustainable wild harvesting at least he knows what he is doing, anyone can catch a Crocodile but then what are they going to do with it? I found his web site wwww.crocodilemickonline.com.au

-- michaela (michaela7@optusnet.com.au), July 25, 2004.