Me and my croc: Tommy Hayes launches petition for croc permits in the NT

Banning permits for pet crocs is not just a problem for keepers, but represents another ‘freedom being taken away’ from Territorians, one wrangler says.

Banning permits for pet crocs is not just a problem for keepers, but represents another “freedom being taken away” from Territorians, one wrangler says.

Coc photographer Tommy Hayes said he had moved from Queensland to the NT to enjoy a perk of the lifestyle not afforded to “the rest” of the country.

This perk included raising a hatchling alongside his son and rescuing larger crocs pegged for relocation or euthanasia.

“It is part of conservation, it is part of education – I’ve got a two-year-old who’s more croc-wise than half the people I know,” Mr Hayes said.

“I have two stepdaughters as well that come over from Cairns and they’re very versed on crocodile safety and crocodiles as well, but I’d love to be able to have that sort of hands on (experience) and teach them, pass that knowledge on to them.”

And from a conservation perspective, Mr Hayes said it could be possible for rural Territorians to set up compliant pens for large, wild-caught crocs who faced “the bullet” instead of relocation to a farm or wildlife park.

“Obviously, it’s still going to happen – you might get 10 crocodiles out of the harbour in a week and there aren’t 10 people lining up to take those crocs,” he said.

“It’s all about balance.”

But Mr Hayes’ well-meaning plans were put on hold when the former Labor NT Government’s croc management plan was published earlier this year, promising no new permits for pets would be issued.

The plan also states captured saltwater crocodiles are “taken to a farm or destroyed”.

Mr Hayes has started a petition to reinstate the previous permit system, which allowed 60cm crocs to be kept in urban areas and larger crocs to be kept on rural properties, provided keepers kept their pens up to code.

Mr Hayes lives on a 20-acre property in Marrakai and had hoped to use his ample space to house dozens of older crocs.

“I‘ve always wanted to retire the big crocs,” he said.

“I’d been offered a crocodile from Queensland – a big old croc, he’s infertile at a farm, and I actually have a bit of a personal connection with this croc as well from when he was in the wild.”

Mr Hayes hoped his petition – which has received 177 signatures of 200 in just three days – would put “rights of the Territory” back into the community.

“It is a fight against this place becoming like the rest of Australia.”

The CLP recently promised to “review” the permit system now they are in power.