Is Crocodile Farming High Risk and High Return?: A Case Study in Prek Toal, Cambodia

By: Olivia Williams Advisor: Dr. Chouly Ou

Background• Dates back to the Angkorian Times (Thuok & Tang,

1994) • The French commercialized farming in the 1945 (Jelden

et al., 2005)• Farming increased in the 1980s as the market for

crocodiles grew• Farming emerged as an alternative income option, but

no studies showed if people are making money

Study Aims

1. To determine the number of families that are crocodile farmers in Prek Toal.

2. To examine the risks and returns on investments of crocodile farmers.

3. To understand the economic motivations for crocodile farming.

Methods: In the Field

• Structured survey using convenience sampling • Census

OSMOSE, 2006

Methods: Data Analysis • Conversions to USD• Proportional Expenses • Proportional Income• Return on Investment

• Regression Analysis

Crocodile Raising 101

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Crocodile Raising 101

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Crocodile Raising 101

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Results and Discussions • 183 families out of 600 have crocodile farms.• 38 respondents with 16 raising selling hatchlings.

• Average number per family is 60 crocodiles. • Average age of crocodile is 7.86 years.

Williams, 2016

Roadifer, 2016

Expenses: Start Up Costs

Crocodile Pen 3570.2

34%

Tax 457.89

4%

Other Costs1639.72

16%

Crocodile Purchase Cost

4854.5146%

Average Proportional Start Up Cost for Raising Crocodiles per Household in Prek Toal, Cambodia.

Total Expense and Number of Crocodiles per Household

Feed Costs: Average Cost of Feed per Crocodile per Age in 2015/2016 in Prek Toal, Cambodia.

1 2 3 4 5 7 8 10 11 12 13 160

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Wet SeasonDry Season

Age of Crocodile

Cost

of F

eed

per C

roco

dile

in U

SD

Cost of feed per household and number of crocodiles per household Prek Toal, Cambodia (n=37).

Income: Proportional Income of Villagers Selling Crocodiles (n=16).  

Profits from Selling Hatchlings and Number of Crocodile Hatchling in Prek Toal, Cambodia

Return on Investment for each year selling hatchling per household in Prek Toal, Cambodia (n=16).              

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

-2.25

-2

-1.75

-1.5

-1.25

-1

-0.75

-0.5

-0.25

0

0.25

0.5

0.75

1

1.25

1.5

1.75

Respondent 3

Respondent 5

Respondent 6

Respondent 7

Respondent 9

Respondent 10

Respondent 12

Respondent 15

Respondent 16

Respondent 21

Respondent 22

Respondent 23

Respondent 24

Respondent 29

Respondent 34

Respondent 36Years selling hatchlings

Retu

rn o

f Inv

estm

ent

Risks of Crocodile Farming

• Death of crocodiles• Change of prices for

hatchlings • Fluxuation of Fish Prices• Scarcity of resources

Conclusion• Crocodiles are a saving bank (Poole, 2005)• Alternative livelihood • Highly risky alternative

Williams, 2016

Acknowledgments

• Ministry of Environment• Tori Roadifer • Heam Phanny • Dr. Chouly Ou • SFS faculty and staff

Williams, 2016

References

Poole, C 2005, Tonle Sap: The Heart of Cambodia’s Natural Heritage, River Books Co, Ltd, Tatien, Bangkok.

Thuok, N & Tang, T.S. 1994 , “Country Report on Crocodile Conservation in Cambodia” in Proceedings of the 12th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland.

Jelden, D, Manolis, C, Giam, C, Thomson, J & Lopez, A 2005, ‘Crocodile Conservation and Management in Cambodia: A Review with Recommendations: Summary Report of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group Review Mission to Cambodia,’ prepared for IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group.