Source : New Kerala, India, 19 Jan '05
By : Indo-Asian News Service
  

"This kind of venture is the first in South Asia and there is a potential market in Europe for salted crocodile hides and in China, Taiwan and (South) Korea for crocodile meat and bone," Mushtaque Ahmed, managing director and CEO of the newly formed Reptiles Farm Limited, told IANS.

Some young Bangladeshi entrepreneurs began farming crocodiles on a commercial basis in Hatiber village in Bhaluka, about 72 km north of Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

The company expects to fetch at least $50 million by exporting 5,000 pieces of crocodile skin per annum by 2012.

"We've just started the venture by bringing in 75 adult crocodiles - 15 males and 60 females - from Sarawak of Malaysia last month and the crocodiles were released in our ponds in the last week of December last year," Mushtaque said.

There are 14 ponds and two lagoons established on about 13 acres of land. Of the total land, only one-third is being used at the initial stage.

Mushtaque, who has been with one of the largest private tourism companies in the country for several years and travels to the Sundarbans often, said: "It's my brainchild and as I wanted to do something on my own, I thought of the commercial business of rearing crocodiles."

"There's a huge market for crocodiles around the world and Australia captures half of the market share," he said adding: "Besides, Indonesia, Singapore and Papua New Guinea will also be our competitors".

Mushtaque said they were now confident about running the uncommon business as Bangladesh, a least developed country, is entitled to a special tariff benefit in the European Union for several exportable items, including leather and leather goods.

The entrepreneurs expect that if everything goes right they would be able to go for export by 2008. At present they will pay attention to the adaptation of the crocodiles to the local weather and then to breeding.

Apart from business, Reptiles Farm Limited will go on conservation of threatened wildlife species through the application of standard animal husbandry techniques.

The company has a plan to set up a snake farm for medicinal productions like anti-venom serums. The establishment of a bird sanctuary is also included in its plans.

The farm will also facilitate a national level 'crocodile status survey' in association with the IUCN and the local Ministry of Environment and Forest. It will take up a training programme on crocodile husbandry for prospective crocodile farmers, he said.

A database of research information on the ecology of crocodiles and other wildlife in Bangladesh will also be set up.