The New Nation - Internet Edition

A CROCODILE farm set up on a commercial basis at Hatiber village under Bhaluka upazila in the district of Mymensingh is expected to start export of crocodile products soon. Two sponsors of the 'Reptiles Farm Limited’ have virtually created a new area of investment. Breeding and production of crocoldiles in captivity had earlier been successful in Thailand and some other countries. In Bangladesh successful breeding and raising of crocs have been noticed at the Dhaka Zoo. As reported in the media the demand for croc skins, meat and bones has increased in developed countries. Some of the countries import crocodile products, not only for meeting consumption demands but also for making chemical products including perfumes of global varieties.

The rivers of Bangladesh once used to be natural breeding and feeding grounds of marsh crocodiles which are no longer found in the wild. Zoologists have reared some croc youngs that hatched from eggs laid by the she croc of a pair of reptiles of the species kept at a pond at Khan Jahan Ali’s mazar premises in Khulna. Estuarine crocodiles however are still found in the Sunderbans area. The newly set up crocodile farm is expected to become profitable, if the efforts of the two sponsors are augmented with positive support. While the sponsors of the crocodile farm deserve to be praised for their successful venture, the authorities concerned should exercise caution that vested quarters do not use the export of crocodile skin, meat and other products as cover to export banned products like lizard and snake skin and do not threaten these reptiles with extinction. The law enforcing agencies should also ensure that illegal trade in frog-legs is not resumed by unscrupulous elements.