1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Now, the federal government have announced that the territory's crocodile 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: farming industry and handling practices are set to go under 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: the spotlight. The National Code of Practice for the Humane 4 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Treatment of Crocodiles, both wild and farmed, is going to 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: be reviewed over the next twelve months, and NT based 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 1: Center for Crocodile Research Managing Director Sally Isburg joins me 7 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: on the line right now. 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 2: Good morning to your doctor. Is Burg. 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 3: Morning, Katie, Thanks so. 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 2: Much for your time this morning. 11 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Now, can you tell me a little bit more about 12 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: this review which the federal government's announced. 13 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, the Code of Practice is all about setting 14 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 3: the minimum standards when anyone is handling crocodilian So whether 15 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 3: that be farms, the problem Crocodile team out on the harbor, 16 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,319 Speaker 3: or even people that keep crocodiles for a pets, it's 17 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 3: all about setting the minimum standards to make sure that 18 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 3: crocodile welfare is at the foremost of our minds. 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: And we do things pretty well here in the Northern 20 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: Territory from your perspective, because it seems to be such 21 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: a huge industry for us. 22 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, we do. And you know, the last Code 23 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 3: of Practice was published in two thousand and nine, so 24 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 3: fourteen years ago, and particularly the industry has been making 25 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 3: continual advances on their welfare throughout that period and have 26 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 3: far exceeded these minimum standards that are in the old 27 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 3: old Code of Practice. But you know, animal welfare, it's 28 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 3: in the farmer's best interest to have animal welfare at 29 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 3: their four months because that therefore means that their farm 30 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 3: profitability is also at its maximum. So you know, no 31 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,279 Speaker 3: farm is going to mistreat an animal when their income 32 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 3: is reliant on it. 33 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. 34 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: Look, there'll be lots of people listening this morning, you 35 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: know myself included, who thinking you know, what exactly does 36 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: it mean and what exactly. 37 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: Is going to be looked into. 38 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I know you mentioned minimum standard, but I 39 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: suppose for lots of us we don't even really understand 40 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: what it means. 41 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, you know, I mean, I guess even looking 42 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 3: after your own cat and dog at home, you know 43 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,399 Speaker 3: you've got minimum standards there. Feed at once a day, 44 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 3: make sure that it's got an ability to run or 45 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 3: you know, cats to scratch or whatever. Same things with crocodiles, 46 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 3: we need to make sure that they've got minimum requirements, 47 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 3: so you know it comes down to housing, how much 48 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 3: space they have. Being cold blooded, we need to provide 49 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 3: appropriate temperatures. It also comes down to you know, what 50 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 3: they're fed, just how they're managed on a day to 51 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 3: day basis, setting those minimum standards, because if people don't 52 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 3: meet those minimum standards, then that's when the regulators need 53 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 3: to step in and say, well, you know you're not 54 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 3: caring for this animal appropriately. 55 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 1: Now I know that you said it hasn't been updated 56 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: since two thousand and nine. Why do you reckon these 57 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: updates needed? 58 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 3: Well, we've done a lot of research since then. As 59 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 3: I said, like, the industry far needs what's written in 60 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 3: the Code of Practice these days because research has gone on, 61 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: evidence spaces has increased. So it's all about updating it 62 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 3: to what the current scientific literature is reflecting, and that'll 63 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 3: just provide better welfare outcomes for the animals. 64 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: Now, tell me, is there anything that you reckon needs 65 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: a bit of a closer look in particular? 66 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 3: Oh, look, you know, I think one of the main 67 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: new introductions into the Code of Practice is going to 68 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 3: be around the vaccines that we've been working on. Yeah, 69 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 3: there's no currently no section of the Code of Practice 70 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 3: that deals with vaccines. For crocodiles, because there's never been 71 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 3: a vaccine for crocodiles before. But you know, there's other 72 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 3: areas like the World Organization of Animal Health recently published 73 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 3: guidelines on killing for reptiles, which includes crocodilians, And there's 74 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 3: just some wording tweaks that we need to make within 75 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 3: the Code of Practice to make sure that the documents 76 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 3: are in alignment. Even though the industry already adheres to 77 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 3: the international guidelines, we need to make sure our national 78 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 3: guidelines reflect those same standards. 79 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: Now, Sally, this review it's not related to the recent 80 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: calls for a CaAl, is it. 81 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 3: No, that would all be related around the crocodile management programs. Yeah, sorry, 82 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 3: Crocodile Management Plan which is being released for public comment 83 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 3: later this year. I don't have any further details on 84 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 3: that at the minute, But this is much more around 85 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 3: you know, anyone who's handling crocodilian what their minimum standards, 86 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 3: as I. 87 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: Said, are, Yeah, well, we'll keep a close eye on 88 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: both those things. I'll tell you what, Sally, your job 89 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 1: must be very interesting crocodile research. What are some of 90 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: the other things that you look into, like from on 91 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: a day to day basis. 92 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 3: Well, actually, my major brief is working with farms, zoos 93 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 3: and tourist facilities making sure that their welfare standards are 94 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 3: up to speed. So you know, I do independent audits 95 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 3: on facilities making sure their hygien and husbandry is best 96 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 3: for the animals. But I also get involved in other 97 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 3: types of research. We're doing some vitamin D studies on 98 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: freshwater crocodiles at the minute, looking into nutrition, so we're 99 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 3: constantly looking at ways to increase our welfare standards through scientific, 100 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 3: evidence based research. 101 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: That one about the vitamin D sounds interesting. 102 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, it really is because you know, obviously you 103 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 3: know crocodiles bask and vitamin D is essential for calcium metabolism, 104 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 3: and so just trying to figure out what the levels 105 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 3: of circulating vitamin D are in wild crocodilians that will 106 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 3: help us understand what they need in captive environments. So 107 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 3: again we're looking at the wild animals to determine what 108 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,239 Speaker 3: their needs are in captivity rather than guessing. 109 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: Well, doctor Sally is Berg, I reckon, we'll catch up 110 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: with you again soon. 111 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: You do some. 112 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: Interesting work by the sound of it, and I really 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: appreciate you having a chat with me this morning. 114 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: Great talking to you, Katie, thank you, thanks so much.