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. |