Latest news with #AustraliaZoo
Sky News AU
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Firebrand politician Bob Katter reignites his war of words with Terri Irwin over his 'lazy' crocodile hunting push
Firebrand politician Bob Katter has reignited his war of words with Terri Irwin, the widowed wife of beloved Australian conservationist Steve Irwin, after she labelled his bid to legalise crocodile hunting 'lazy' and 'sloppy'. Dr Irwin, director of Australia Zoo, was among nearly 200 stakeholders who made submissions to the committee overseeing a controversial bill introduced by Katter's Australian Party to allow croc culling and egg harvesting to keep populations in check and make recreational waterways safer. 'The Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 will increase the probability of crocodile attacks on people and impact the overall health of Queensland waterways,' Dr Irwin said in her submission. 'More than sixty percent of the clauses in this Bill are exactly the same as previous versions. In fact, it is such a lazy and sloppy attempt to recycle old draft legislation that the Explanatory Notes refers to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection – the department has not been called that since 2017.' Speaking to Sky News, Bob Katter vehemently defended criticisms from Dr Irwin and Australia Zoo. 'What the hell would they know about it? They live in Brisbane. All they know about is crocodiles in cages. They've never lived where the crocodiles are,' Mr Katter said. 'Even I don't want crocodiles in cages.' Sky News requested an interview with Dr Irwin but a reply has not been received. Mr Katter's Australian Party's bill, which proposes the establishment of a Cairns-based Queensland Crocodile Authority to oversee a permanent crocodile culling program, has been rejected by a parliamentary committee. The bill seeks to legislate licencing for crocodile farms and sanctuaries, safari-style hunting and egg harvesting as a means of controlling the reptiles' growing populations and making recreational waterways safer. But the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee overseeing the bill has recommended it not be passed. "The committee agrees that public safety should always be a paramount consideration but ultimately concluded that no amount of culling or management will ever fully erase the danger posed by crocodiles," the committee's report said. Mr Katter said growing crocodile populations and a geographical expansion of their habitat was the result of an 'imbalance' in Queensland waterways caused by a 1970s ban of crocodile culling and egg harvesting. Reintroducing the controversial practice would keep the populations in check and reduce the risks of attacks on humans, he said. 'Human beings took the eggs for 40,000 years. You've stopped the human being from taking the eggs,' he said. 'Not one single one of the 300,000 crocodiles in North Queensland has ever got shot. If I've got a crocodile on my cattle station, I'm not even allowed to remove them. 'They're territorial. The mother has 60 little crocodiles. Well, they got to find a home and all North Queensland is territorialised now, so all they can do is move south.' A suspected crocodile sighting in the Noosa River on the Sunshine Coast in July has reignited debate about crocodile management in Queensland. Images captured by local fisherman James Graham through a sonar fish-finder of a crocodile-like figure on the riverbed have gone viral and made national news headlines. 'If I was in my normal fishing spots, a couple of hundred meters north, that's what a croc looks like,' he said. 'The thought (of a crocodile in the Noosa River) is truly absurd.' Dr Ross Dwyer, crocodile expert with the University of the Sunshine Coast, said it would be possible for a crocodile to inhabit the Noosa River, but 'highly unlikely'. 'This would be the furthest south a crocodile has been spotted down here in over 100 years,' he said. 'During the 20th century, crocodiles were hunted so extensively they were pushed back in their range in Queensland, and what we're seeing is the crocodiles starting to expand back into that natural habitat again. 'The Noosa River could be good habitat if there wasn't all that built up area and the water was warmer. 'The crocodile population is expanding. The water is warming up and we are going to see more of them in these southern parts of the range. 'They do have an important role in these waterways and it's something that we need to be proud of in Australia.' Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers shot a crocodile found in the Mary River near Maryborough in February. "(Shooting) is certainly one of the tools in the toolbox and we do employ it in situations where public safety (is affected by) the risk of the crocodile persisting in the area," a spokesman told the ABC.
Scoop
09-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
Crocodiles That Spent 25 Years In Concrete Cage Behind A Cafe Rehomed In Sanctuary
After a quarter of a century living in a caged concrete pit, two salt water crocodiles in the Solomon Islands have been moved to a sanctuary thanks to a New Zealand animal charity. The crocodiles had been surviving on rain water in the litter-filled enclosure at the back of a cafe in Honiara. New Zealand based animal rescue, HUHA, became aware of the animals when it was in the capital for a dog desexing campaign. After months of wrangling, raising money and working with Australia Zoo the crocodiles have been rehomed at a local private sanctuary. HUHA founder and chief executive Carolyn Press-McKenzie told Checkpoint when she heard about the crocodiles from locals, it was the last thing she expected. "When you hear that something's off, you need to go have a look. So we went and had a look after surgery one day and they were there... it was awful. I can't even describe. "They were just in these little prisons of rubbish and concrete." Press-McKenzie said she decided they had to do something about the crocodiles, and hunted down their owner. "I think we got the guy at the right point because we know other people, including Australia Zoo, had been there over the years, seen them but not been in a position to get them and move them." The owner agreed to sell the animals to HUHA, who then owned them for about 10 months. "Over that 10 months, we didn't sleep much and we fundraised" While the fundraising didn't gather the full amount of funds they needed to re-home the crocodiles, Press-McKenzie said there were some "amazing" donors, with one woman donating $10,000. However, she believed the lack of support was due to New Zealander's disconnect with the scaly creatures. "Our thing is every animal matters and we don't discriminate. So basically for us, it didn't really matter that we weren't into crocodiles. Those crocodiles were in trouble and no one else was stepping up." HUHA then contacted Australia Zoo, and asked them to step in to help relocate the crocodiles. "I didn't see how we could actually relocate them safely unless we were with people who knew what they were doing." The zoo jumped into the mission, and were "blown away" by what HUHA had managed to achieve. After managing to construct a private sanctuary, the crocodiles are now being relocated, their new owner well aware of the responsibility. "We signed the crocs to him two days ago and [the contract] says he can't breed them, eat them, use them as an exhibit, or on sell them and that if he has any problems, he has to talk to us." The new enclosure has a metre-and-a-half deep the pool for the animals to swim in, something they have never done before. "They can actually go right in and swim and rest at the bottom. So they've never walked and they've never swam before. So this is all new for them." After being kept in separate pits for 25 years, the two crocodiles have now had the opportunity to meet and settle into their new home together. "It's just it's really nice, they're safe."
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bindi Irwin Says Daughter Grace, 4, Has Acquired a New Skill — Here's the Sweet Way It Connects to Her Uncle Robert Irwin
Bindi Irwin's daughter has a new skill The proud mom shared a snap of her and her husband, noting that the 4-year-old took the perfect picture Irwin welcomed her daughter in 2021Bindi Irwin's daughter seems to be following in her uncle's footsteps. The Australian conservationist, 26, shared a picture of her with her husband Chandler Powell on her Instagram, noting that it was the first photo their daughter Grace, 4, took of them. By the looks of it, the toddler seems to be taking an interest in her uncle Robert Irwin's chosen career path. "This is the first photo Grace has ever taken of us. 🥹 She asked me if she could take a photo on my phone, looked at it, and said, 'cuuute,' " began the proud mom in her caption. "Everything about these few minutes in time makes my heart happy. It's the little moments that really mean the most." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The couple welcomed their first child on March 25, 2021, exactly one year after they wed at the Australia Zoo. In her August 2023 PEOPLE cover story, Irwin shared that she underwent surgery for endometriosis and referred to Grace as her and Powell's 'tiny little miracle.' Irwin added that she and Powell 'feel so lucky to have Grace.' She explained, "There was every chance that we wouldn't have been able to have a little one, so to have our beautiful girl, we are so lucky." The proud uncle, 21, is definitely enjoying his status as a "funcle." He shared a photo on his Instagram on Friday, May 16, as he adorably ate breakfast and read the newspaper alongside his niece, Grace. In the snap, Robert and Grace sat together at a small table as they shared a meal and Grace looked at the newspaper. "Just a couple old buddies catching up on the days events," Robert wrote in his caption. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! On Sunday, June 1, Robert shared several snaps from his recent trip to the Disneyland Resort, including one with his niece on Instagram. In the adorable snap, Robert and Grace waved to the camera as they enjoyed one of the theme park's rides. Grace could be seen wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a floral dress, posing next to her uncle, who wore a navy button-down shirt and aviator sunglasses. "Enjoying a well needed rest with my people," Robert wrote in his caption. "And having the realisation that I'm always leaning in photos." Read the original article on People
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Crocodiles that spent 25 years in concrete cage behind a cafe rehomed in sanctuary
One of the crocodiles inside the litter-filled concrete cage it spent 25 years in. Photo: supplied After a quarter of a century living in a caged concrete pit, two salt water crocodiles in the Solomon Islands have been moved to a sanctuary thanks to a New Zealand animal charity. The crocodiles had been surviving on rain water in the litter-filled enclosure at the back of a cafe in Honiara. New Zealand based animal rescue, HUHA, became aware of the animals when it was in the capital for a dog desexing campaign. After months of wrangling, raising money and working with Australia Zoo the crocodiles have been rehomed at a local private sanctuary. HUHA founder and chief executive Carolyn Press-McKenzie told Checkpoint when she heard about the crocodiles from locals, it was the last thing she expected. "When you hear that something's off, you need to go have a look. So we went and had a look after surgery one day and they were there... it was awful. I can't even describe. "They were just in these little prisons of rubbish and concrete." Press-McKenzie said she decided they had to do something about the crocodiles, and hunted down their owner. "I think we got the guy at the right point because we know other people, including Australia Zoo, had been there over the years, seen them but not been in a position to get them and move them." The owner agreed to sell the animals to HUHA, who then owned them for about 10 months. "Over that 10 months, we didn't sleep much and we fundraised" One of the crocodiles being relocated. Photo: supplied While the fundraising didn't gather the full amount of funds they needed to re-home the crocodiles, Press-McKenzie said there were some "amazing" donors, with one woman donating $10,000. However, she believed the lack of support was due to New Zealander's disconnect with the scaly creatures. "Our thing is every animal matters and we don't discriminate. So basically for us, it didn't really matter that we weren't into crocodiles. Those crocodiles were in trouble and no one else was stepping up." HUHA then contacted Australia Zoo, and asked them to step in to help relocate the crocodiles. "I didn't see how we could actually relocate them safely unless we were with people who knew what they were doing." The zoo jumped into the mission, and were "blown away" by what HUHA had managed to achieve. Carolyn Press-McKenzie handing ownership of the crocodiles over to the new owner. Photo: supplied After managing to construct a private sanctuary, the crocodiles are now being relocated, their new owner well aware of the responsibility. "We signed the crocs to him two days ago and [the contract] says he can't breed them, eat them, use them as an exhibit, or on sell them and that if he has any problems, he has to talk to us." The new enclosure has a metre-and-a-half deep the pool for the animals to swim in, something they have never done before. "They can actually go right in and swim and rest at the bottom. So they've never walked and they've never swam before. So this is all new for them." After being kept in separate pits for 25 years, the two crocodiles have now had the opportunity to meet and settle into their new home together. "It's just it's really nice, they're safe." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Crocodiles that spent 25 years in concrete cage
After a quarter of a century living in a caged concrete pit two salt water crocodiles in the Solomon Islands have move to a sanctuary thanks to a New Zealand animal charity. The crocs had been surviving on rain water in the litter filled enclosure at the back of a cafe in Honiara. New Zealand based animal rescue, HUHA became aware of the animals when it was in the capital for a dog desexing campaign. It raised money and worked with Australia Zoo, and after months of wrangling the crocs have been rehomed at a local private sancutary. HUHA founder and chief executive Carolyn Press-McKenzie spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
