You can farm tomatoes. You can farm fish. And in southern states, you can farm alligators.
Florida is one of a few states that farm the reptiles, which are . Some gators are farmed for tourism, like zoos and parks. Some are farmed for meat, and some are farmed for hides.
Rearing gators from wild eggs to full size is complex and expensive. And when it comes to selling hides, fashion houses have monopolized the market, according to experts in the industry. Where does gator farming stand today? And how do local players in Tampa Bay fare? First, a brief history One of the first commercial alligator farms in Florida, , opened over 130 years ago, and it’s still operating today.
Since it was founded, the park’s sole focus has been tourism. Since the founding of the first farms, alligator aquaculture has grown in popularity — not only for tourism, but also for hides and meat. In the 1800s, alligator skin was used for shoes and horse saddles, and the oil from the animals helped lubricate machinery, .
During the Civil War, hides were used for Confederate Army saddles and footwear. The industry took off when poor hunting regulations and a high-fashion global demand for skin skyrocketed, placing the American alligator on the endangered species list in 1967. Farming played an “integral role” in meeting consumer demand and allowing wild populations to recover, .
The American alligator is no longer endangered, but the animals are protected by the Endangered Species Act due to thei.
