If you’re wondering why anyone would raise scaly-animals, think again. Tourists flock in numbers to catch a glimpse of giant crocodiles lounging in the hot sun chomping on chicken heads. Apart from the visitors’ attraction in zoos, the reptiles also make way to slaughterhouses and tanneries to produce luxury products. The pictures of alligators from the hatching days to be raised and numerous skinned by workers at slaughterhouses might leave you a little baffled.
Thailand capital city, Bangkok might be a concrete jungle but the presence of 60,000 crocodile is as close as one could get to wildlife. Located in the outskirts of the city, Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm is the biggest farm in the world as the home for the deadly crocs. Some 1.2 million crocodiles are kept on more than 1,000 farms in Thailand, according to figures from the Thai department of fisheries.
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, including to top buyer China.
Wichian giving information on the crocodile leather products include Birkin-style handbags said they up to 80,000 baht (USD 2,356 or INR 152800) each. Meanwhile, crocodile leather suits are sold for around 200,000 baht (USD 5,885 or 381677). Not just the scaly outer skin of crocodile brings fortune to the sellers but crocodile meat is also sold like hot cakes as many believe it to contain health benefits. It 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
According to india.com
