Chinese Court Auctions 100 Tonnes of Siamese Crocodiles for Rs 4.7 Crore
A Chinese court has put up around 100 tonnes of Siamese crocodiles for auction, with a starting price of Rs 4.7 crore (four million yuan). However, there’s a catch. The auction, which officially began on March 10, will run until May 9. Prospective buyers are informed that they must personally collect the reptiles and cover all associated costs, including weighing, loading, and transportation, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.
Buyers are also required to hold an artificial breeding license for aquatic wildlife under the crocodile category and possess the necessary facilities and transport capabilities to handle such a large consignment.
As of the latest update, over 4,000 people had viewed the auction page on Alibaba’s Judicial Auction platform, but no one had registered to participate. The crocodiles up for auction were previously owned by Guangdong Hongyi Crocodile Industry Company, founded in 2005 by Mo Junrong.
Once known as the "Crocodile God," Mo was forced to relinquish the reptiles after his company failed to meet financial obligations, prompting the court to attempt to liquidate the assets, which included the crocodiles.
Crocodile Farms in China
Crocodiles are bred in China for their skin and meat, which are used in traditional medicine, cosmetics, leather goods, and even wine. The Siamese crocodile species has been on China’s list of wild animals that can be commercially farmed and traded since 2003.
The decision by the Shenzhen Nanshan People’s Court to auction off the crocodiles follows previous unsuccessful attempts. In January and February, the court held two auctions with higher starting prices, but both failed to attract buyers.
The unusual auction has sparked widespread public attention on Chinese social media platforms, with many questioning the practicality of the exercise.
"It is so scary. I wonder who will actually buy them?" said one user, while another joked, "This is not for an ordinary person. You will need a whole industry to handle them."
In November last year, as many as 70 crocodiles escaped a commercial farm in Maoming, Guangdong province, after a typhoon brought heavy rainfall to the region. Images and videos of the escaped crocodiles lying on roads went viral on social media.
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