Next month Saudi and Egyptian investors will launch an alligator-raising farm with the objective of exporting alligator meat and skin to Taiwan and Europe. In 1999, the countries collaborated in building an alligator-raising farm behind the Aswan Dam with three million dollars in investments, of which 40 percent was in Saudi contributions, reported Al-Bayan . The farm, which is the first of its kind in the Arab World, contains 400 mother alligators. The project is planned to produce 1,000 pieces of alligator skin by the beginning of 2003 and 8,000 pieces in 2006. There are four alligator breeding farms throughout the world. They are located in Thailand, South Africa, Israel and Guatemala. The price per piece of alligator skin ranges from $1000-1,200. A mother alligator lays 20 eggs per annum. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
