People in the Northern Territory will be allowed to keep crocodiles as pets in 2025 after the government reversed Labor's prohibition on ownership permits.
Just days before Christmas, NT Parks and Wildlife Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the semiaquatic reptiles were a "key aspect of the Territory lifestyle".
The NT government says responsible Territorians have the right to keep a crocodile as a pet. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
The government has committed to new standards for enclosures, tagging and animal welfare which will be proposed under legislation to be introduced in 2025.
"Crocodiles are synonymous with the Territory - that's what makes our lifestyle so unique - and responsible owners have a right to own one with a permit," Ms Boothby said.
"We are taking action to reverse this decision because opportunities like these are central to our Territory way of life."
Since crocodiles were protected by law in the 1970s, experts say the population has grown to more than 100,000 in the Top End.
The proposed changes are expected to come into effect early in 2025.
Tommy Hayes, a passionate crocodile enthusiast, welcomed the NT government's announcement.
"Being able to own a crocodile responsibly is a dream for many people like me," he said.
Mr Hayes said he was "heartbroken" when the former Labor government announced their revised crocodile management plan.
The government's announcement comes after local reptile park Crocosaurus Cove said beloved movie-star Burt, a five-metre-long saltwater crocodile, died on Monday.
The 90-year-old reptile was first made famous in the cult classic Crocodile Dundee, staring alongside Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski in 1986.
"Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor - an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm," keepers wrote in a Facebook post.
"His fiery temperament earned him the respect of his caretakers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile."
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