Part 2: Crocodiles, crimes and conservation claims
Aug 19, 2025 •
This is part two of a two-part series. Start with Part 1: Inside Australia's secretive crocodile skin industry.
The lucrative Australian crocodile skin industry has always sold its conservation credentials - arguing that by farming the animals, they were ensuring the future of the species.
Two prominent scientists, using successful media businesses to promote research which showed those benefits, gave credibility to an industry worth 100 million dollars.
Their work also reportedly underpinned Northern Territory and Queensland legislation regulating the industry.
But when one of these scientists was exposed as one of the worst animal abusers in Australian history, everything about crocodile farming was called into question.
Today we go inside the Darwin jail cell where that scientist now resides, and hear about the reckoning inside the controversial crocodile industry.
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.
Part 2: Crocodiles, crimes and conservation claims
1642 • Aug 19, 2025
Part 2: Crocodiles, crimes and conservation claims
This is part two of a two-part series. Start with Part 1: Inside Australia's secretive crocodile skin industry.
The lucrative Australian crocodile skin industry has always sold its conservation credentials - arguing that by farming the animals, they were ensuring the future of the species.
Two prominent scientists, using successful media businesses to promote research which showed those benefits, gave credibility to an industry worth 100 million dollars.
Their work also reportedly underpinned Northern Territory and Queensland legislation regulating the industry.
But when one of these scientists was exposed as one of the worst animal abusers in Australian history, everything about crocodile farming was called into question.
Today we go inside the Darwin jail cell where that scientist now resides, and hear about the reckoning inside the controversial crocodile industry.
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.
Guest: Award-winning journalist Katherine Wilson
Listen and subscribe in your favourite podcast app (it's free).
7am is a daily show from Solstice Media.
It’s made by Atticus Bastow, Cheyne Anderson, Chris Dengate, Daniel James, Ruby Jones, Sarah McVeigh, Travis Evans and Zoltan Fecso.
Our theme music is by Ned Beckley and Josh Hogan of Envelope Audio.