Thailand's thriving industry in crocodile farms

[Chittychangchang]

Thailand is home to some of the world's biggest crocodile farms, where tourists can see the giant creatures lounging in the hot sun, chomping on chicken, or swarming in emerald green pools.

Some 1.2 million crocodiles are kept on more than 1,000 farms in Thailand, according to figures from the Thai department of fisheries. Some are equipped with slaughterhouses and tanneries to produce luxury products.

Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm is one of Thailand's biggest, and has been operating for 35 years.

"We're an all-in-one farm, creating jobs for the people, creating income for the country," said Wichian Rueangnet, the owner of Sri Ayuthaya, which has an estimated 150,000 crocodiles.

Sri Ayuthaya is registered with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), allowing it to legally export products made from the critically endangered Siamese freshwater crocodile. One of its top buyers is China.

"We do everything from raising crocodiles to slaughtering, tanning and exporting crocodile products," Wichian said.

Crocodile leather products include Birkin-style handbags, which sell for up to 80,000 baht ($2,358) each, and crocodile leather suits, which fetch around 200,000 baht ($5,894), Wichian said.

Crocodile meat is sold for as much as 300 baht per kg (2.2 lb). The bile and blood of the reptile, made into pills because they are believed to have health benefits, are worth 40,000 baht and 500 baht per kg, respectively.

The industry has faced setbacks, as exports of Thai crocodile leather products fell more than 60 percent in 2016 to 13 million baht, down from 34 million baht in 2015, commerce ministry figures show.

The following is a close up look at the booming industry, as seen through the lens of Reuters photographer Athit Perawongmetha.

Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm, one of Thailand's biggest, which has been operating for 35 years.



A zoo worker places crocodile eggs inside a hatchery at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.



Newly hatched crocodiles are seen at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.



A worker holds young crocodiles at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm.



Workers feed crocodiles at Sri Ayuthaya crocodile farm in Ayutthaya province, Thailand.



A crocodile eats a chicken head at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.



A worker removes crocodile skins at a slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Bangkok.



Workers process crocodile meat at a slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Bangkok.



Dyed crocodile skins hang at a crocodile leather tannery in Samut Prakan province.



Dyed crocodile skins are displayed at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.



A Chinese tourist tries on a jacket made from crocodile skin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.



A zoo performer reacts as he puts his head between the jaws of a crocodile during a performance for tourists at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.



Thailand's thriving industry in crocodile farms

[DrB0b]

I seem to remember hearing about crocodiles roaming the streets of Bangkok after escaping from Croc Death Camps during the floods a few years ago.

[thaimeme]

I seem to remember hearing about crocodiles roaming the streets of Bangkok after escaping from Croc Death Camps during the floods a few years ago.

The greater percentage of the wild riverine variety take there residences further north - the principle basin river systems is rife with the aquatic devils.

Which has little to do with the raised domestic variety - just thought I'd mention it.

[misskit]

Crocodile farming becomes new career among Yasothon residents



BANGKOK, 2nd July 2017 (NNT) - Crocodile farming could soon become a source of good income for more people in Yasothon Province due to strong market demand.

Thirty-five-year-old Wutthichai Wongkamchai, a resident of Kham Khuean Kaeo Disrict, is one of the people who have been making crocodile farms a new source of income.

Mr. Wutthichai has turned the space behind his residence into a farm after he saw that several people in his community have chicken farms and many dead chickens were being made no use of and were simply buried.

He said that the dead chickens then became the starting point of his idea to operate a crocodile farm, which began with 50 young crocodiles, which cost 2,500 each.

After one year, he said each crocodiles could be sold at 7,000 baht.

So far, Mr. Wutthichai has raised three generations of crocodiles and earnt a profit of over 200,000 baht on them.

And as demand keeps rising, he now raises more than 120 crocodiles on his farm.

The Kham Khuean Kaeo Fisheries Department Office said that crocodiles are considered an economic animal, which has not yet become popular in the province as many feel they take more time and money, when compared with other types of farming.

Currently, only two farmers are operating in the crocodile farm business in Yasothon, according to the Fisheries Department Office.

http://nwnt.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/News...O6007020010006

[Wilsonandson]

Not a big fan of crocodile clothing, but do love going to these sort of farms though.

Let's hope the next time you go you get eaten.

[wasabi]

That's always been natures role for crocodiles, keeping waters clean by eating rotting corpses, now their eating skills are being used to clean the environment of Thailand from eco green friendly dead chickens, that didn't make it to the export market.