Conservation Issues

During the 1950s and 60s crocodilian populations throughout the world were under siege being hunted to near extinction for their valuable hides to be made into beautiful leather goods demanded by the fashion industry.

In 1971 the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) embarked upon an urgent and seemingly impossible task of saving the nearly extinct twenty three species of the world crocodilians.

Today, all but seven species have been brought back from "Endangered" status. This remarkable achievement was accomplished by a grand scheme of protection, substantive utilization and value added conservation. A network of volunteer scientists, field researchers and government officials funded by the investments of farmers, ranchers, traders, tanners and manufacturers work together for the protection and conservation of these animals as a valuable renewal resource.

The American Alligator of the southeastern U.S. is a good example of the success of these programs. Today there are over 200 alligator farms and ranches raising alligators from egg to harvest. Hundreds of thousands of acres once thought of as worthless swampland is being protected from development and preserved by private land owners and government purchases as alligator habitat in order to harvest this abundant valuable renewable resource.

Alligator commerce is regulated by international, federal and state laws to prevent over exploitation. Legislation and intensive management practices have allowed the alligator to rebound from an endangered species to its present abundance throughout its range in the wild and on farms.

Alligators are raised in environmentally controlled buildings in clean water, and fed a balanced diet for maximum growth without the aid of hormones, steroids, or artificial growth stimulants.

For more information or to discuss alligator farming issues, contact Alligator Bob at gatorinfo@gatorbob.com.

Or you can visit Gator Bob's Hot Links page.