Australia’s crocodile farming industry is set to be examined after the government announces a review of the rules governing how the predators are caught, farmed and killed.
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00:00 Native saltwater crocodiles are a novelty for tourists in the Top End.
00:07 At this theme park, the juveniles on display are on loan from a nearby croc farm.
00:13 They are farmed predominantly for their skins, the beautiful hides that make beautiful leather products.
00:19 With 100,000 crocs currently in production, it's a big but secretive business that now faces
00:26 extra scrutiny.
00:30 It is a growing industry, we have more science, we've got new techniques, it's time to update the code of practice.
00:36 There are more than 20 crocodile farms across the Top End.
00:40 Some are linked to luxury labels like Hermes, which use the exotic leather to make accessories
00:47 that can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
00:50 This is a really important industry and a really important source of jobs in a lot of remote communities.
00:57 In the territory, eggs are taken from the wild, a dangerous job and one aspect of the code under review.
01:05 The 14-year-old code also covers animal husbandry and slaughter.
01:10 Cut down the nape of the neck there and then destroy the brain with a steel rod.
01:15 The review could be divisive, it'll pit farmers against animal activists who say that these native reptiles
01:22 shouldn't be slaughtered for their skins.
01:25 Just because crocs are big ugly dinosaurs doesn't mean that they should be treated badly for a French luxury handbag.
01:31 The industry says their practices are humane.
01:35 It is a beautiful product, it is long wearing and aesthetically appealing and the conservation and livelihood benefits
01:42 that have come out of this just can't be challenged.
01:46 The review is expected to take 12 months.
01:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]