Skip to main content

Egypt set to invest in crocodile industry

As the crocodile population has increased in Lake Nasser, despite lifting the ban on crocodile hunting, the Egyptian government announced a project to invest in the animal and encourage exports.
TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY ALAIN NAVARRO: An Egyptian zookeeper feeds a Nile crocodile at Giza zoo in Cairo 14 August 2007. A sudden influx of hundreds of baby crocodiles seized while being smuggled out of Cairo airport has left the zoo struggling to deal with the tiny but rapidly growing reptiles. They were brought here after customs officials found them, along with snakes and chameleons, in the luggage of a young Saudi man who said they were destined for a Saudi "scientific institute". AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOU
Read in 

CAIRO — The Egyptian government has embarked on a national project aimed at creating Nile crocodile farms and terrariums. Al-Monitor received a copy of the program memorandum that the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, which is affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, prepared and sent to parliament in December 2016.

According to the memorandum, the construction phase is set to begin some time in 2017, the trial production of terrarium crocodiles and leather products in 2019, and the commercial production and export in 2020.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.