There are 22 species of crocodiles world-wide, two of which are endemic to Australia: the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and the freshwater or Johnston's River crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni). The northern rivers of Australia have been famous for their man-eating crocodiles since the early days of Australian exploration. The large saltwater crocodile has taken the lives of many unsuspecting men, women, children, their pets and livestock. In the post world war two era many northern pioneers hunted the saltwater crocodile for its skin. Hunters combed the rivers and their tributaries, indiscriminately shooting the saltwater and freshwater crocodiles.

Hides were sold wet salted to Europe. It is estimated that 270,000 saltwater crocodile hides plus 200 to 300,000 freshwater crocodile hides were exported in the 15 years prior to 1972. The days of hunting slowly died as the hunters recognized that they had shot their way out of the market. There were so few crocodiles remaining in the late 60's that the hunters couldn't make a living. This unsustainable harvest was brought to a halt by the Western Australian government in 1969. In 1971 the NT government granted the saltwater crocodile total protection and Queensland followed in 1974.

Over the next decade the crocodile populations made a remarkable recovery. Protection, plus a nucleus of very wary but healthy breeding stock deep in inaccessible breeding grounds led to a crocodile revival. In the late seventies crocodile sightings became more common. After several well-publicised crocodile attacks, fears that a growing crocodile population would interfere with and inhibit a growing human population led to a more proactive form of crocodile conservation in the Northern Territory. A major public education campaign was undertaken, to prevent people's actions once again threatening one of the NT's most valuable natural resources.

Crocodile farming licences were issued with the intention that young crocodiles harvested from the wild could be commercially utilised and the farms could provide a home for any larger animals threatening human populations. Our farm was first licensed in 1981, and provided a major public education facility in the form of a new and exciting tourist attraction, whilst being able to commercially utilise the crocodiles for their skins. Provisions were made for juveniles to be released if populations in the wild became threatened. Sustainable and successful breeding from the nucleus of problem crocodiles supplied to the farm has now led us to being able to selectively choose our own breeding stock. Monitoring of growth rates and temperaments of animals set aside for breeding is the basis of the selection of mature animals to be used in the farm's paired breeding program. Any male that shows excessive aggressiveness towards other crocodiles especially females is removed from the breeding program. Some may be used as single display males, but animals with excellent skin quality are now culled for their skins and heads.