High Skin Prices Spur
p. 61 · Read in the full issue
Natives To Use Lassos
Natives in the Western District of Papua-New Guinea are lassoing sleep ing crocodiles because of the world wide rise in the prices of crocodile skins, according to Mr. Elliot Elijah, an officer with the Administration's Co-operative Society Division.
Mr. Elijah, who visited Kiunga, near the northern reaches of the Fly River recently, says the natives dive into areas where crocodiles are sleeping on the bottom, lasso them round the neck, drag them to dry ground, and kill them with long spears.
Several freshwater crocodiles up to 15 ft. long have been caught by this method recently.
Mr. Elijah says the lassoing of crocodiles was traditional before fire arms became widespread among the natives, and that he has not seen this dangerous method used for many years. However, the only natives who are using it are those who cannot afford firearms.