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difficulties and the isolation of the area make the region non-desirable for
settlement, the agriculture practised there barely supplyitrg the Deeds ofthe people
for an entire year.
ORGANISATION OF EGG COLLECTION IN THE AREA OF BESAI,AMPT
The first collection organised in tbe region was a r€sult of preparatory work canied
out by Ramandimbison. Many people replied positively to this preliminary work
assuring of their abili8 to lccate nests and that they would be interested in the
subsequent sale of the eggs. The collectiotr itself was headed by Behm, aided by
Ramandimbison and a techniciatr from the farm in question (under construction)
who was responsible for pafng the locals involved.
Although the people responded favourably to the preliminary enquiries rnade by
Ramandimbison, tbere was some disbelief concerning any follow-up that would
ensue and, combined with their negative attitude towards crocodiles, they destroyed
a considerable number of nests prior to the arrival of the collection team. The eggs
were eaten or destroyed to prevent any increase in crocodile numbers - it was troted
here, and elsewhere, that crocodile eggs are not traditionally eaten but living
conditions had so deteriorated that certain groups no longer had any choice and ate
whatever they could find.
Be that as it may, in less than eight days it was possible to collect more than 1000
eggs ftom locations that were not known by the team before the operation.
Ramandimbison remained in the area the following week and was able to collect
practically the same number of eggs. It was often the case that while the team went
to look for the first couple of nests with a villager other people also went to look
for other nests. For each nest found. the person who found it received 1000
Malgache francs (about 70c US at that time) per egg, a price calculated to make
a clutch worth as much as that of an adult skin bought locally.
The eggs collected were placed in polystfere boxes filled with vermiculite and
carried by men to a vehicle and then along the hacks back to the town - a journey
often lasting many hours. Usually arriving at the village every evening, the eggs
were stored until a certain number of boxes had accumulated when they were
collected by the farmer in a light aircraft (Cessna) and taken to the farrn, where
they were imm€diately incubated.
In the second season, a collector fiom the farm organised the egg collection and
took only 1500 eggs, at the request of the farrner.
THE RESFONSE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN
CROCODILE EGG COLLECTION AFTER THE SECOND COLLECTION
SEASON
The resllts prestnted here are tbe oltcome of several days spent in the field by
Ramandimbison. The locals who were questioned numbered only 12 in the
Southem part and,24 in the North of the pilot site. Also, the questionnaire,