A mother who lost her daughter in a crocodile attack outside Darwin is appealing to the Northern Territory Government to consider more public education instead of expanding culling. The Lawler Government wants to remove more aggressive crocodiles because of rising concern about attacks, but some experts don't think it will work.
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00:00 Charlie Nusulvin has coped with the death of her daughter 15 years ago by taking crocodiles
00:07 head on, starting a small farm to sell skins and crocodile products.
00:13 There is a lot of things that we do in Brioni's memory. The name of our farm is in her memory.
00:18 Brioni was 11 when she was taken by a crocodile while swimming in a water hole near their
00:23 home 60 kilometres outside Darwin.
00:26 It's still very traumatic and it's still very deep seated in our hearts.
00:29 Her death prompted the NT government to start very limited culling and removing crocodiles
00:35 from Darwin harbour. But her mother doesn't support its plan to expand culls.
00:41 I think that's going to be giving a false sense of security.
00:44 Leading Australian and overseas experts have told an international crocodile conference
00:49 in Darwin more culling won't work.
00:52 Culling as a means of improving public safety is not going to work.
00:58 Some crocs are removed from their territories, others move in.
01:02 And then that's potentially an unsafe situation. It's sort of drawing in other male crocodiles.
01:09 Experts instead advise more public education.
01:13 The real challenge is often actually human behaviour.
01:17 And more resources to keep tourist spots advertised as croc-free clear.
01:22 If the government says you can swim in that place, they've got to be sure.
01:27 Some remote area traditional owners want more aggressive crocs removed.
01:32 Three people got taken by a croc in our region from the last 10 years, maybe 15 years.
01:39 As crocodile numbers grow, both experts and those already affected are warning all top-end
01:45 waterways should be considered croc country.
01:48 Understand where you are, take an informed decision on whether you're going to put yourself
01:53 in harm's way or not.
01:55 Wise words from a mother who knows.
01:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]