Crocodile traps have become a source of stupid amusement for people posing in photos standing on top of them, or even poking at trapped crocodiles with sticks.
On November 21, the Sunday Territorian ran a front page picture of three bare chested teenagers Simon Bates, Zane Cappo and Jock Fleming posing in a photo posted on social networking site Facebook.
Amendments to existing laws will make it an offence to interfere with or damage crocodile traps, with a fine of up to $6500 or a maximum of six months’ in prison.
The new legislation covers crocodile traps wherever they are placed, with more than 60 in the Darwin Harbour and the rural area, as well as those on parks and reserves.
The act expands the definition of interference of a trap to mean touching, standing on, entering, moving or otherwise disturbing a crocodile trap owned by the NT Government.
The new legislation which is not retrospective will be enforced by both Parks and Wildlife staff and the Northern Territory Police.
The NT News has published a series of images of people jumping on and inside crocodile traps.
Dangerous stunts were highlighted when several young men were seen standing on a trap, poking a saltie inside with a stick in a creek in Howard Springs.
Some were also seen putting their hands through the cage to take a photo of the beast in February. Three months before two men were swimming inside a baited trap believed to be at Manton Dam – about 75km south of Darwin. Another mate was surfing on top of the floating cage pulling faces.
And Darwin girls Ally Pettifor and Bonnie Keogh were photographed dancing on top of a croc trap – wearing nothing but bikinis and using champagne bottles as microphones.
The photo, published last November, went around the world.
The Territory Government introduced the laws into Parliament on August 11 this year and they passed on October 21, to close loopholes in legislation including not covering traps outside parks and reserves.
The final stages for the laws was them to be published in the Northern Territory Government Gazette by Administrator Tom Pauling.
A “special gazette” was organised by the Government to bring the laws in earlier than would be allowed through the regular the weekly publication date which is on Wednesdays.