Zoo sells crocodile meat to raise money

(AFP)
Updated: 2006-11-07 22:30

BEIJING  - A crocodile zoo in south China's island province of Hainan has started selling its animals to local meat lovers in an effort to raise money, a zoo official has said.

A crocodile zoo in south China's island province of Hainan has started selling its animals to local meat lovers in an effort to raise money, a zoo official has said. [AFP]

The Nantai Crocodile Lake Zoo, home to over 3,000 crocodiles, started the trade late last week, offering the exotic meat at 216 yuan (27 dollars) per kilogram, said Zheng Yi, the zoo's director.

"So far we've managed to sell the meat of one or two crocodiles a day," Zheng told AFP by telephone. "If there is a market, we plan to sell 2,000 crocodiles that way."

He said the zoo was forced to take the drastic step to survive, but added potential buyers had nothing to fear. "The meat is definitely safe," he said.



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