Alligator Farms..

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

I'm curious to what everyone's thoughts are on these. Also, I am talking about the farms tha process the creatures after a certain size. I will share mine a bit later.
Xain

[sparkon16]

well I do not like the fact that they will end up slaughtering them in the end and the way that they make them grow faster by giving them the perfect conditions to grow not for good health and all!!! I did a lil research on the subject but I'm surezane that you will have much stronger aruements for or against whichever "side" u decide to take. Just personally I don't like the slaughter of animals but alligs are one of my favs so I dont tend to like it much.

Shane

[Piers]

Well, unfortunatly, gater/croc farms have saved a few species from extinction. I don't like the way some of these places are run, but I gusess a few must suffer for the greater good of the whole!
Piers

[jason h]

well i think that unfortionatllly they are eventually going to slaughter,but when you look at the big picture so arre cattle,pigs chickens etc. the differance is that by the gators being farmed less will be eraticated from there natural habitat,and i do believe that many farms must release a percentage of hatchlings to the wild(Correct me if im wrong) which in turn only adds to the wild population and its a win win deal little goody two shoes gets her posh gator purse and th wild population increases at the same time, mind you i dont know how ppl can care and look after something as pretty and interesting as a gator and still send it off to the butcher ,id be sneaking them home one by one hehe.but that just my opinion and i think that this is an excellent topic for a discussion here Xain.

[LadyHawke]

would you believe that alligators farms are having a problem with the west nile virus, apparently 200 gators were destroyed and tested positive for it

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Ok, I guess it's my turn... Back in the day I agree that they were alot of help with the wild populations. Nowadays, I find them useless, as well as cruel on their cramped, over populated pens.
I agree that the did help safe thousands of crocodilians.
Nowadays, nearly every state holding alligators, there are alligator hunts, which will subdue most people wanting meat or skin. Also, every state has trappers which alot are called on daily
to catch these beast... Few are relocated.. And in turn they are then processed for their meat and skin, again sold to people wanting them. So this kind of kills a farms idea. Not to mention it's said that they release 90% of hatchlings (I believe that was the going rate) so that kills the farms production again.
I guess that's my complaint in a nut shell.



id be sneaking them home one by one hehe.

LoL, as would I.

would you believe that alligators farms are having a problem with the west nile virus,



Yup. I believe the reason for this is if you look how big large crocodilians are. And alligators are constently kept at 85-90 degrees so that keeps the gators warm enough for the virus to carry through their blood stream. There's anarticle on this that explains it really well.
If find it, I'll post it.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Just a better written version ( I think) I did..

Back in the day I agree that they were alot of help with the wild populations. Nowadays, I find them useless, as well as cruel on their cramped, over populated pens. (I'm sure not all are like this, but I've seen a few that were as well as pics a friend of mine sends who works at a ranch farming C. porosus. Not sure why she does it though..)
I agree that they did help safe thousands of crocodilians of a few species.
Nowadays, nearly every state holding alligators, there are alligator hunts, which will subdue most people wanting meat or skin. Also, every state has trappers which alot are called on daily
to catch these beast... Few are relocated.. And in turn they are then processed for their meat and skin, again sold to people wanting them. So this kind of kills a farms idea. Also, the fact many states are now making it illegal to own parts of alligators. Not to mention it's said that they release 90% of hatchlings (I believe that was the going rate) so that kills the farms production again...
Also, I agree gator meat is good if prepared right..
I agree on the farming of the turtle species.
A few reasons why I believe this hasn't picked up is because most of the turtles on the buffet market misunderstood. Thier lifestyles, breeding habits, incubation, food, ect.. are unknown.
..On a side note Farming doesnt always help populations. If you look at two species that are farmed and have been farmed (As well as endangered) a tad longer than American alligators are still losing the battle.
The species I am talking about are the Chinese alligator and the Orinoco crocodiles. Sure there are a bit more than 10,000 C. alligators in captivity, but there are only about 600 in the wild. Give or take. Though the population is high in captivity, its not in the wild. And that is what counts. Not to mention the species is threatened by inbreeding and proaching. Now the Orinoco crocodile. Only about 250 species left in the wild. Which are also farmed. (Look above).
And the species is still dropping due to poaching and a high population of an animal that is farmed but never released, Spectacled caimans. A high population, the most common species of crocodilian.
This animal is farmed but only for production. (excluding skin sales) An animal that is not protected yet is fairing very well. Tables have turned.
..And for anyone thinking the "So what, look at cows and sheep.."
Well, cows and sheep dont have hunting seasons nor are they trapped and processed on a daily routine. (Generally thinking with the domesticated breed).
I guess we all have our reasons, yet personally, I find them on a larg part worthless.

Hope that made some sense.
Xain