CROCLIST: Steve Irwin Flap Over Croc Safari Plan

[Peter Brazaitis]

I'll leave the comment and discussion to the armchair experts who have no idea of what's really involved with the conservation and management of either the Florida American alligator or the NT saltwater crocodile populations.  I recently completed a C. porosus study in the western Pacific, and the populations and species are not very comparable.  

I never met Steve, nor would I do the things he did, and I don't know what Steve's comments were.  Perhaps altruistic, to be sure, but to his honor and credit.  I could easily believe that whatever he said, it flew in the face of financial investments, commercialization, trade, abusive utilization, and industry support for research that many of the world's crocodilian experts benefit from.  Over the years I have testified numerous times as a forensic specialist on behalf of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in cases involving the prosecution of contraband trade in crocodilians, hides and products.  Guess what?  The industry guys on the other side never seem to have trouble finding a "renowned crocodilian biology expert" to testify on their behalf.  Its the "best science money can buy".  Rocking the commercial money boat often brings with it professional criticism and condemnation.  I am sure Steve was a conservation pain in the butt.  

Steve made every kid around the world who watches TV aware that even giant dangerous crocodiles have value and beauty, and possess remarkable capabilities.  He often risked his life, sometimes a bit foolishly some of us thought, in the interest of the animals.  Let's give Steve the respect and credit he is due.  Mr. Grenard's comments are disingenuous, and those of a livingroom quarterback who should be content with popping another can of beer and hopefully continuing to watch reruns of Steve's exploits.  

My very deepest sympathies to his family. 

Peter Brazaitis    
                                
Peter Brazaitis
Forensic Herpetologist
155 Woodchuck Lane
Harwinton, CT 06791
Phone: 860-485-0044
Fax: 860-485-9527
E-mail: croc1 at 99main.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Steve Grenard 
  To: croclist at list3
  Sent: Monday, September 04, 2006 4:04 PM
  Subject: CROCLIST: Steve Irwin Flap Over Croc Safari Plan


  As recently has last June, Irwin got himself involved in a conservation controversy, making inaccurate statements to the government and press concerning the legal hunting of crocodilians in some areas. For a decade or so, in the U.S., controlled harvests of wild alligators in states like Florida (with more than a million alligators in the wild) have been legalized. Right or wrong on whether to allow the hunts or safaris as they were called, Irwin's statements were disputed by one of Australia's top crocodilian biology experts  .... 

  http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1655549.htm 

  Comments anyone? 



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