Crocodiles are better known for their dangerousness than for any economic attribute. In the Ibo language, it is called ‘aguiyi,’ which, directly translated, means ‘sea lion.’ A fearsome carnivore, its sharp teeth is the veritable image of cutting acuity that is well exploited in advertising concepts. The crocodile is a totem figure for Kaduna, one of the most important cities in Northern Nigeria. Kaduna literally means ‘city of crocodiles.’ It was in this city that I first learnt about crocodile farming.
While my children were still in their primary school years, I often took them on long walks around the surrounding Gbagi villages. On one of such days, we went to a stream (actually a tributary of the Kaduna River) where we met the locals bathing and washing, with kids splashing around in the water.
Mingling with the people, I asked questions on things around that interested me, especially about an area where very dark looking water was flowing into the river. They said it was waste water from the activities of a company owned by some expatriates. They said that the grounds were so well guarded that no one was exactly sure of the number of business activities that went on in there. They, however, divulged that some of their brothers, who worked as hands in the toiletries factory told them there was also a crocodile farm within the grounds. Fascinating! Could the effluence have been coming from tanning activities?
Most animals are slaughtered for their meat with leather as a by-product. In the case of crocodiles, they are killed for their exotic skin, harvested from the underbelly of the beast; which contributes almost 10 per cent of the total revenue for luxury handbag sales in the international market; especially Europe. Its market value is almost 10 times that of pure leather goods. The skin of one crocodile costs about $500, depending on the size. Croc meat is only a spinoff, which sometimes is used in feeding other animals on the farm because its consumption is not widespread. Here again, I have another remarkable occurrence to recall; if only to prove that even the croc meat has its circle of lovers in the local scene and need not be seen as a mere offshoot.
In the course of a stint at Okpanam Secondary/Commercial School in today’s Delta State, I lived with the school Matron, Mrs. Asoya. One day, she came back with a treat that got the whole house excited; except me.
It was a large chunk of meat from the tail of a crocodile. A special meal of pepper soup and pounded yam was promptly prepared with the meat. I avoided both the meal and the pot with which it was cooked for a long time because crocodile meat has the pungent smell of seafood – a reason why it is cherished in riverside parts, where it is a familiar delicacy. Smoked croc and alligator meat attracts good pricing in Nigerian bush meat markets. It is also priced by specialty restaurants that are known for indigenous African delicacies both at home and elsewhere. So, the crocodile farmer in Nigeria would not have difficulties selling the meat locally; even though it is said to be in demand in China, as a biocure for cancer; in Japan and other parts of Asia.
My third encounter with the crocodile idea came much later, providing an inspiration for this write-up. A few years ago, the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, had commissioned my company to package a documentary on its activities. At the time, leather research was still part of their mandate. The assignment took us to the famous Kano dying pits, where we got clips of the artisanal tanners processing animal hides including crocodile skin.
However, one may ask the question, ‘why farm crocodiles when there is a preponderance of them in the creeks of Nigeria?’ Two main issues have made crocodile husbandry a compelling enterprise. First, in the years before the mid 70s, crocodiles had been hunted almost to extinction in many parts of the world because of its prized skin. Croc farming therefore emerged as a repopulation strategy that would also give the fashion world one of its most valuable materials for upscale products without upsetting the bionetwork. One crocodile can lay as many as 90 eggs; when hatched, the farmer can release some of the juveniles into the wilds to continue to expand crocodilian population.
Another reason for raising crocodiles in captivity is to ensure that the quality of the skin is protected from damage – both from surfaces where the underbelly is dragged and from fights. Crocs are aggressive when stressed; leading to fights where they could sustain scratches that degrade the skins’ market value. Appropriate farm management and slaughter techniques are therefore deployed to enhance production of pristine skins.
Although croc husbandry can be challenging due to the infrastructural and safety demands, it is a viable venture that would rake in good returns, even in foreign currency, for the adventurous. To the discerning farmer, a crocodile farm can be positioned to constitute an attractive tourists destination. A famous example is the Koorana Saltwater Crocodile Farms in Australia. This area can be incorporated into existing crocodile farmsteads in the country to increase revenue.
Copyright PUNCH.
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