A Chinese court sold 100 tons of live crocodiles for $500,000, requiring the buyer to handle the dangerous pickup.
In a surprising event, a court in China is auctioning off 100 tons of live crocodiles. This unusual auction is the third attempt by the Shenzhen Nanshan People’s Court to sell these reptiles.
They were previously owned by a company that went bankrupt. Despite the auction’s high starting price, there have been no bidders so far.
China court sells 100 tons of live crocodiles for $500K with buyer responsible for dangerous pickup
The crocodiles were once part of the Guangdong Hongyi Crocodile Industry Company, founded by a man known as the “Crocodile God.”
This company specialized in breeding and selling crocodiles. However, due to financial problems, the company had to liquidate its assets, including the crocodiles.
Now, the court is trying to recover some of the lost funds by selling these animals.
The auction starts at a hefty price of 4 million yuan, which is around $550,000. This price reflects the value of the crocodiles, which range from 200 to 500 animals.
The court hopes to attract buyers who are interested in these unique creatures. However, finding a buyer has proven to be difficult.
Challenges in selling live crocodiles
One major issue is the logistics of transporting the crocodiles. The court will not cover shipping costs, and buyers must handle the collection themselves.
This includes capturing and loading the animals safely. Additionally, potential buyers need special licenses to own crocodiles. This requirement adds another layer of complexity to the auction process.
The court has tried to auction these crocodiles twice before, but both previous attempts failed. The starting price was initially set higher at 5 million yuan but was later reduced to attract more bidders.
Despite these efforts, no one has registered to bid in any of the auctions. The lack of interest raises questions about the feasibility of selling such a large number of live animals.
Importance of crocodiles in China
Crocodiles are a significant commodity in China. They are used in a variety of products, including cosmetics and food.
The crocodiles being auctioned are Siamese crocodiles, which are commonly farmed in the country. This makes them valuable for both commercial and industrial purposes.
If the current auction fails, the future of these crocodiles remains uncertain. The court may need to consider other options for their disposal.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by businesses that deal with live animals, especially in large quantities. The combination of high costs and regulatory requirements makes selling them difficult.
Social media reactions
One user said: This is a horrific case of animal abuse. Those wearing crocodile – shame on you.
At least anything they export to the US will be a 104% tariff — in this case it is a cruelty appropriate tariff.
The second user wrote: Humans in general and Chinese in particular have a sick and evil belief that animals exist for profit regardless of how much pain and suffering it costs.
The third user added: Lots of belt and boot factories over there, right?