Home ›› 13 Oct 2022 ›› Nation
The country’s first commercial crocodile farm, Reptiles Farm Ltd in Mymensingh, has made a turnaround after struggling financially due to the owner PK Halder’s controversial money laundering case.
Activities of the farm are going on in full swing and the crocodiles have finally begun laying eggs again after two years.
In 2004, the country’s first commercial crocodile farm was established on 15 acres of land at Bhaluka upazila in the district. Mushtaq Ahmed, founder of the firm, was the visionary alongside Mezbahul Haque who had 36 per cent ownership of the farm.
In 2012, Prashanta Kumar Halder alias PK Halder bought a majority of the share and later on became the sole owner of the farm. Since then, PK Halder took huge amounts of loans from various institutions in the name of the farm.
In 2020, the government seized the bank accounts of PK Halder following loan default cases filed against him, leaving the farm on the verge of being shut down.
During the crisis at least 30 crocodiles died on the farm due to a lack of food while the salaries of the farm’s 10 employees remained unpaid.
In this situation, the government came forward to protect the crocodile farm. In March this year, the High Court constituted a six-member management committee with international crocodile expert Enam Haque as the in-charge to manage the farm.
Ever since Enam Haque took over the farm as the managing director, the farm has made a significant turnaround.
Enam Haque said the government has given them the responsibility to protect the farm. “We are trying to ensure that the resources of the country are not wasted, alongside preserving the environment and protecting the animals,” he said.
He also said that his first duty was to save the hungry crocodiles and ensure their good health adding that there are currently about 2,000 crocodiles of various ages in the farm.
Enam further said crocodile farming is profitable but requires a huge investment and proper long-term planning. The average lifespan of a crocodile is more than 100 years.
About 40 species of fruit, forest and medicinal plants have been planted to ensure the breeding and growth of crocodiles in a natural environment. Various types of flowers and grasses have also been planted.
Adult crocodiles’ diet consists of meat and fish and they are fed once a week.
Apart from this, comprehensive plans have been undertaken to make the farm attractive to both domestic and foreign tourists.
Stating that the tourism programme will be launched soon, Enam said no crocodile farm can profit solely by cultivating crocodiles.
“I have travelled to many countries around the world, seeing how their tourism trade has flourished around crocodile farming. It is only natural that any exotic animal farm has a tourism system to support the farm,” he said.
In response to a question, he said the farm does not qualify for any financial assistance since it is blacklisted by the banks.
“Our target right now is to start the tourism programme as soon as possible to increase the income of the farm,” the managing director said.
The manager in-charge of the farm, Dr Abu Saim Mohammad Arif, said there is a huge demand for crocodile meat in Korea, South Africa and China. There is also a demand for bones and teeth.
There is an opportunity to export 1,000 pieces of crocodile leather from this farm next year. On average, each of the crocodile leather sells for $500-600.
“We expect this crocodile farm will play a big role in earning a good amount of foreign exchange once the export begins. The crocodiles have started laying eggs since May,” he said.
The crocodiles laid 1,730 eggs of which 1,000 survived, he said adding that the number of crocodiles will increase exponentially with the addition of these hatchlings.
Jamshed Alam Faisal, deputy manager of the farm, said the farm began its journey with only 75 crocodiles.
“We have had many ups and downs along the way but things are looking up now. I hope the farm will soon start making a good profit by exporting meat, and leather,” he said.
