Crocodilia
Farming and ranching

Alligators and crocodiles were first farmed in the early 20th century, but the facilities involved were zoo -like and their main source of income was from tourism. By the early 1960s, the feasibility of farming these reptiles on a commercial scale was investigated in response to the decline of many crocodilian species around the world. Farming involves breeding and rearing captive stock on a self-contained basis, whereas ranching means the use of eggs, juveniles, or adults taken each year from the wild. Commercial organisations must satisfy the criteria of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) by demonstrating that, in the area concerned, they do not adversely impact the wild population.

Alligator and crocodile farming began because of demand for their hides, but now nearly all parts of the animal are used. The side and belly skin make the best leather, the meat is eaten, the gallbladders are valued in East Asia, and the heads are sometimes made into ornaments. In traditional Chinese medicine, alligator meat is said to cure the common cold and prevent cancer, while various internal organs are believed to have medicinal properties.
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