CAMBODIA

Although wildcrocodiles are consideredendangered, the prospectsfor growth in the crocodilefarming business really looksgood in Siem Reap,Cambodia - up to 1,350 per cent, Nao Thuok, who is the deputy director of the fisheries department -also popularly known as theCrocodile Man - promotesraising crocodiles as a sideline for Cambodian farmers.He says that the farmingactivity could really be dangerous until one learns aboutthe different moods of thereptiles. More than 400farms have sprung up acrossCam bodia, about half ofthem in the northwesternprovince of Siem Reap.

Thuok, who has beenbreeding crocodiles for 18years, says that thisyear, Cambodia is likely tosign the Convention on theInternational Trade inEndangered Species whichallows the regulated exportof commercially raisedcrocodile skins. He estimatesthat foreign sales couldbring in us $20 million.The Siem Reap state farmhas already received or4rsfrom European and Japanesebuyers lookirf)(-for a steadysupply of skins fromwhich handbags, belts,shoes and other items arefashioned.

Sam Rithya, a Siem ReapfarmtT, says he bought100 baby crocodiles f for us$34 a piece in 1994 and wasrecently offered us $30,000for his operation. Rithyasays that the animals requirelittle space or care, have alow mortality rate and can befed with cheap fish fromTonlAap, ,Cambodia's great lake.