DARWIN CROCODILES TARGETTED TO CAPTURE TOURIST DOLLARS

Fraser Island Dingoes, starving in State Care, attracting tourist dollars are destroyed if a tourist feels intimidated. Photo credit: “Save Fraser Island Dingoes”

Conservation groups are concerned that Native Dingoes are dying of starvation, stress from being tagged and also shot by keepers, at the tourism oriented Fraser Island National Park [Sanctuary] in Queensland.

A similar “attraction” (park, or reserve) has been launched for the ancient crocodile to rake in tourist dollars and and make the most of natural advantages such as landscapes and the first people’s cultural heritage.

The Gumatj people for one, have ‘grown up’ at that place where the Wangarr or Dreaming crocodile built its nest.

To many of the Northern Teritory tribes, the crocodile is their sacred totem. As generations pass they see tourism consume and control their cultural spiritual beings.  

Same Dingo found dead on the road by tourists, with an irritating and depleting eartag visible. “Apathy and selfishness have guarded this criminal activity’, says Nic Papalia of “Save Fraser Island Dingoes”.

Soliciting tourism dollars from across Australia, Crocodylus Park is part of Australian Government’s National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, in partnership with industry and state and territory governments.

$100,000 is said to have been sourced for the Crocodylus Park “attraction” and Zoo Wildlife Research and Education Centre in Darwin according to the minister for tourism, Martin Ferguson.

Through the TQUAL Grants program the Australian Government is investing $8.3 million in seventy projects across Australia including $400,000 towards four projects in the Northern Territory.

Minister Ferguson said, “Crocodylus Park is one of Darwin’s premier tourism attractions. By giving visitors the opportunity to learn about crocodiles, including “feed and hold them”. 

At the same time, the crocodile viewing area will have a viewing platform with “transparent safety panels”, a covered entrance walkway to the platform and an uncovered path along one bank of Crocodylus Gorge.

The project will offer tourists a uniquely Australian experience and encourages them to stay longer and explore the city.

The Australian Government and Tourism Australia’s strategic “No Leave No Life” campaign is to encourage Australians to use their 123 million days of accumulated annual leave worth $33 billion in wages to take their family or friends for an Australian holiday experience.”

Attractions such as Crocodylus Park are designed to remind Australians of the appeal of spending their dollars on an Australian holiday.

Crocodylus Park is your first choice to witness the largest reptiles in the world. Presenting over a thousand crocodiles from small one feet long to massive 16 feet long crocodiles.

Crocodylus Park will keep you excited all day. The park is also home to a diverse array of other wildlife

Crocodylus Park is affiliated with the following organizations.
 
   Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA)
   Tourism Top End (Regional Tourist Association for the Top End Region of the Northern Territory)
   Charles Darwin University
   Crocodylus World Practice Firm
   IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group