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43
THE INVOLVEMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITIESIN
THE CROCODILE RANCHINC PROGRAMME
IN MADAGASCAR
O BEHM, MMANDIMBISON
1992
GENERAL
The declitre ol crocodile populations in the world, combined with their consta[t, if
not increasing, economic value, has led many countries to develop crocodile farming
programmes. Farming technolos/ as well as population management programmes
have evolved considerably during the last fifteen yean in many very different
countdes of the world. If it was hunting pressure that was the p ncipal cause
leading to the disappearance of crocodiles, then it is the notable socio-economic
differences tretween the couDtries that has led to the establishment of relatively
different management programmes, depending upon the country in questioo.
Also, in count es such as the Udted States atrd Australia, the management
problems faced are hardly linked to the ecouomic problems of rural populations
lMng on the vels alongside crocodiles, but nther, the authorities responsible for
crocodile conseNation have mainly to face the problem of public education where
crocodiles are still seen as a dangerous and undesirable atrimal (Buttler, 1987). In
Aftica this negative perception also exists but the conflicts between men and
crocodiles are often much more importatrt given the economic dependence of the
people on the habitats ftequented by crocodiles: artisanal fishing, tropical culture
such as ce culture, the use of waterways for transport and obtaining drinking
water, etc It is why, therefore, the ecooomic aspect seems far more important in
these count es. Indeed, it is even more obvious that in these developing nations,
abstract ecological concepts are less easily perceived by those in control thatr short
term economic projects. For many, "Environmental and ecological concems and
the dete orating renewable resource situation must therefore be depicted in
"concrete" economic terms" (Muthoo, 1990).
As the crocodile farming industy has trow really started eaming considerable sums
in terms of foieign exchange, more than 8,16 million Zimbabwe dollars per year in
Zimbabwe (Hutton & Lippai, 1992) numerous governments have become extremely
interested in and concerned with crocodile conservation. All the more given that
the system is established to collect crocodile eggs ftom the wild without dehiment
to the wild population because, with the advance of crocodile farming technology,
the natural mortality of these eggs can be offset via theii continued survival, after
collection, on crocodile farms.
Be that as it may, at the practical level, the benefit of these cooservation
management programmes is mixed because il t}re benefits ftom the crocodiles are