I just finished watching a "newsclip" on DTV24 which
discussed with a "handler", the breeding and rearing
of Freshwater Crocodiles in a Townsville Crocodile Farm.

The handler stated that although these crocodiles are
bred in a hot climate, most are destined to spend their
lives in a cold climate, where they will be sold in Victoria
"as pets for $300 each"

Am I insane or is the rest of the world going insane?
These predators are potential man-eaters and comparing them
with puppies that the kids (or their parents) often dump
when the novelty wears off, creates a potential disaster
situation when these "monsters" grow to a formidable size.

I simply cannot believe that our regulators ( who penalize
people for feeding starving Dingoes on Frazer Island ) can
allow such stupidity to flourish in this fast becoming
Third World Lunatic Asylum called Queensland!

I can condone the breeding of Crocodiles for commercial
gain, but not for sale as potential deadly pets. It is like
giving a child a loaded gun to play with!

What is next baby Bull Sharks or a Great White for the kids
to play with in the swimming pool?

sure it sounds dumb

but

the greenies reckon they want to
get ahead of..the warming cycle

besides the fools ..are breeding too fast
this is..just the latest fad
to try to reduce..their numbers

let fools..be cool
thery got everything else..credit cards can buy

[when you said they were mostly going south
i thought as skins..but hey let them have their fun
its..no skin off our hand/foot/butt

[not our kids on the dinner table
not our american ridgeback..that will be their lunch]

next..they will be called..by the new term
global warming refugees

just wait..the press will feature these
as their next proof..

Bet you mate the thing was filmed on 1ST April.
No room exists for them down there.
Drop bears have the market cornered.
We do however have room for more white Arctic bears, the urban cowboys in Utes thing is sucking the market dry.

No Crackup, it is not insane, nor comparable to having a Great White in the swimming pool.

A little background research and perhaps a call to the nearest Natural History museum would provide all the information you need. Freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) are not 'man-eaters'. You are likely thinking about Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow quite large.

Comparing them to puppies that get dumped after the novelty wears off is also not valid. In Australia the keeping of reptiles and wildlife requires a permit from the relevant state authority. In Victoria, the keeping of Freshwater crocs is allowed with an 'advanced' permit:

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/73CBE749D55CC789CA25712B0015CD4BBF11D1D90BD92089CA2572BF001DE8EA

These permits are required to be renewed annually and that the holders comply with the code of practice for the keeping of wildlife. If they get dumped, then the permit would not be renewed.

But I would suggest that if someone was to go to the bother and expense of obtaining a permit and then sourcing a croc eligible for keeping (only those born in captivity are allowed to be kept), then it would hardly be an impulse purchase for bratty children.

Crackcup,
I'm patiently waiting for when they build a snow-making machine near Ayers Rock & import Polar Bear cubs.
I have witnessed so much insanity out here that nothing surprises me anymore.

After all said and done crackup/cup handle I Hope you have a great new year.
Every one else as well.
We, all of us, need to be aware no media can be trusted to tell it as it is.
NEWS the very word is miss leading, and that doco would have known about the true very limited numbers finding a home as a pet, bet most so called ended up in private zoos.
No wonder some country's think we have roo,s in our city's.

Crackcup, freshies aren't dangerous to people. they are much smaller and less robust than salties and tend to stay out of sight as much as possible. When I was a kid (picaninny), we used to swim and catch freshies (puk puks) in the "raun wara" (literally "round water") which was an old quarry near the (now former) Lae airport. The favoured method was float in an inner tube, trailing a fish or a piece of meat behind you near the reed beds around the edge, then jump in and grab the poor little buggers when they came to the bait. Great fun for young boys of under 10. Occasionally someone would get bitten, but it was usually more of a shock for the puk puks than the picaninnies.

It's still there, have a look in google earth.