A new study on worldwide crocodilian attacks was launched at Charles Darwin University in Darwin, Australia today. The aptly named CrocBITE group hopes to help with the ongoing and future conservation of these species. Part of the study will deal with how successful conservation efforts of certain crocodilian species have led to more attacks on humans.
An example of this can be found in Australia’s Northern Territory. Crocodiles became a protected species there in 1971. Since that listing, their numbers have skyrocketed and so have the number of human attacks.
Dr. Adam Britton, senior research associate of CrocBITE, explained to News Nine, “This (interaction) is increasing each year as crocodile populations recover from decades of overhunting, and human populations continue to grow and encroach upon crocodile habitat. The aim of building the database is by no means to vilify crocs, but to better analyze crocodile and human conflict.”
This database, which already has more than 2,000 entrees since 2011, looks at trends of attacks and the species involved.
Visit the CrocBITE site at www.crocodile-attack.info.