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BRISBANE: A crocodile hunter has challenged the Irwin family to a public debate about the predators, accusing them of "not knowing what they are talking about".
Mick Pitman, a crocodile products industry consultant and taxidermist, and his business partner Michaela Johnston criticised a north Queensland crocodile research centre
to be built in memory of the late Steve Irwin.
The federal Government has provided $6.25 million ($6.92 million) to fund a Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve, northeast of Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula.
The 135,000ha site was handpicked by Irwin before he was fatally pierced through the heart by a stingray's barb while diving in waters off the peninsula last September.
Australia Zoo has said the reserve would protect a spectrum of wildlife species, including crocodiles.
However, Mr Pitman, known as "Crocodile Mick", said on Thursday that the Irwins' latest venture would financially hurt the commercial crocodile industry.
"The Irwins state on their website that 'sustainable use' of native wildlife in so-called modern nations like Australia and the US has inadvertently created a multimillion-dollar 'bushmeat' industry, where local people kill native wildlife for meat, skins and products," he said.
"Wake up Australians! The Irwins have rode off the back of the crocodile now for many years and have made a lot of money in the process."
Mr Pitman is based in Darwin after living on Cape York for over 20 years.
Ms Johnston said sustainable use was the "use of resources at a rate which will meet the needs of the present without impairing the ability of future generations to meet their needs".
"Crocodiles are no longer on the endangered list - they have been downgraded to vulnerable. That's why sustainable use of our natural resources is so important," Ms Johnston said.
"People have and continue to use living, natural resources.
"The Irwins ... must remember that there needs to be a balance.
"They wear leather belts and shoes and probably sit down to a fat juicy steak at a night-time and voice their opinions publicly every day.
"We are sick of their uninformed comments regarding what is good for the crocodile and the industry."
The pair challenged the Irwins to a public debate about the issue.
"We challenge the Irwins to a debate in the public arena where they like to play to show the public that there needs to be a sensible balance drawn," Mr Pitman said.
Mr Pitman, who has previously been involved in a legal tussle with the Irwins and Australia Zoo over the name "Crocodile Hunter", said an earlier call for such a debate had been turned down.
The World Wildlife Fund Australia has also taken a swipe at the federal Government in the media over the funding of the Irwin reserve, saying $6 million represented the Government's total yearly budget for wildlife habitat.
The Irwins could not be reached for comment.
- AAP
