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149
CROCODILE SKIN INDUSTRY IN ETIIIOPIA:
STATUS AI{D CONSERVATION PROCI{OSIS
PHILIP U. fiALLl, Faculty of Forestry, Alenaya University of
Agrj.cultute, p.O. Bo8 l3B, Dire Dalra, Ethiopiai ;d
TADESSE HAILU, E!hj.opian Conservation and Wildlife
Organizatioo,
P.o. Box 386, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Background
The modern crocodile skin industry j.n Ethiopia dates from 1983
rJhe'l an agreemelrt lras signed by the United Natj.ons Food arld
Agriculture Organization (FAO) ej"th the Ethiopian Ministry of
Agriculture to provj-de assistance with the development of a
comnercial venture to ranch Nile crocodiles
construction
(Crocollvlus n!I_o_!!_c_u_s_) .
of a ranch at Arba Minch, Iocated between Lakes Abaya
and chamo in southeestern Ethiopia was begun in rnid-.I984 and the
fir.st wild crocodil{r stocks rere collected io l985 (Table l), FAo
project input has included capital equipment outlays, external
training for veterinary and wildli.fe statf, and consultanr serv]'ces
to evaluate progress. Arba Minch Crocodile Farm (Al.tcF) is
admi.nj-stered by the Ethiopian Wildlite Cooservation Organizati-on
(E,lCO) and was designed to provjde a source of foreign exchange
through the development of an viable industry that rould also
' Present address: Floricta Museum of Natural History
- Herpetolog1l,
University of Florida, Cainesville, FL 326L1 USA