The second most important factor is the toleration of net fishing for barramundi well upstream of tidal river mouths and often right up into breeding areas. Another factor is animosity toward crocodiles, often directed at the Estuarine Crocodile, a large animal which eats humans and is aggressive when encountered near a nest. Eggs and meat are consumed in Papua New Guinea. Export of animals and products is prohibited in Australia, India and Sri Lanka. The species occurs in reserve areas in Australia such as the Ord River Nature Reserve in Western Australia and a sizeable freshwater population exists in Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory.
Important reserves exist in India and Indonesia.
Protection in Australia is generally effective and dates from the early 1970s. There has been a steady increase of these crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in India from 0.87 individuals per sq. This increase is largely due to the fact that eggs have been collected, incubated and the young reared at the research centre. As part of the crocodile conservation project in India, the Gujarat Forest Department has set up two crocodile rearing centres in Sasan and Gandhinagar. Many Estuarine Crocodiles have been bred in captivity and 857 have been reintroduced into three water bodies located in the Gir forest.