From Our Archives - Good Future For Crocodiles
27 YEARS AGO With crocodile hide considered a precious commodity in the fashion industry, Albert Pretorius, of Altah farm near Bela-Bela, says that the future for crocodile farming in South Africa looks promising.
“However, Mr Pretorius warns that getting started in crocodile farming is costly. A breeding female costs from R8 000 [about R41 000] to R15 000 [R77 000], while all the buildings, specialised heating equipment for computer-controlled enclosures necessary for hatching and rearing crocodiles, cost a great deal.
“After studying crocodile farming, aiming to make his weekend retreat at Warmbaths a paying proposition, Mr Pretorius bought his first Nile crocodiles from an Eastern Transvaal lowveld farmer in 1986. He subsequently bought others from various provinces to develop a broad genetic base. He now has 75 breeding females, 26 adult males, and some 4 000 young crocodiles from a few months to 28 months old.
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