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the rainy season and, in conhast, incredibly dry periods during the dry season. If
these conditions are not ideal for small crocodiles, there is no doubt tlat in tlle
beginning, the lor density ofhumans along with a very favourable biogeography for
crocodiles, provided the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)with avery favourable
tefiitory in Madagascar.
For some locals in Madagascar crocodiles were sacred and protected (Behm &
Hutton, 1988). At the same time, siuce tle beginning of the century crocodiles were
hutrted by many people (Petit G, 1925), although the hunten did not hunt regularly
but rather following attacks on humans - a practice which was not sufficient to stop
the proliferation of crocodile populations (Raffray, 1950). In the 1950's, the
colonial French adminishatiotr attempted to exterminate crocodiles in the country
by offering bonuses for killing crocodiles and collecting the eggs (J O Mad &
Depend N" 1539). However, this plan failed since from the firct few weeks many
thousands of eggs were collected and the administration could no longer pay the
people. For example, Decary R (1950) tells us that an inhabitant of Marovoay
collected, for his bonus, 7000 eggs in three weeks.
As in most African count es, it was hunting that was the main cause for the drop
in population numbers and if the high export trade figures in the 1940's are
surprisiag (Behra& Huttor, 1988), there is no doubt that during the 1960's the
drop in exports was linked to a simultaleous drop itr the populations.
The perception of crocodiles in the country is such that despite the ratification of
the Washington conventionby Madagascar on 05 August 1975, which broughtabout
the ban of all exports of crocodile skin products, it was not until 15 June 1988 that
the crocodile was lifted fiom the problem animal category to be classed as game.
Since 1985 Madagascar has once again been authodsed througb CITES to export
crocodile skins, the populations having, from all accounts, increased since the
international tade ban in 1975. Meanwhile, hunting has become quite
uncontollable and can only negate the management q/stem alieady considered
unsatisfactory for an animal such as the qocodile. Population surveys cgnducted
between 1987 and 1988 (Behra& Hutton, 1988) showed the populations to be low
compared with that of protected African rivers, or rivers exploited uniquely for
their eggs. However, their numbers were relatively similar to those in rivers with
considerable human settlement. It vas then itr 1989 that Madagascar asked for the
assistance of the FAO to establish a project for the development of crocodile
farming.
FAO PROJDCT FOR THE DEI'ELOPMENT OF CROCODILE FARMING
At the end of 1989, the FAO financed all assistance project for the development
of crocodile farming in Madagascar, following the request of that country's
government. The project leader was Olivier Behra with Ramandimbison acting as
one of the two technicians required as part of the project format. The main goal
of the project was to establish the feasibility ol establishing a program for the
development of crocodile farming. The project included the training of potential