Between 1950 and 1974 as a result of uncontrolled wild harvesting an estimated 3.5 million crocodiles were slaughtered in the wild in Southern Africa as a result of the demand on crocodile leather, meat and other by products.

The nile crocodile (crocodylus niloticus) population in Southern Africa was registered with CITES (the Convention in Trade of Endangered Species) as endangered in 1974. It was at this point that South Africa became a signatory to CITES and that the trade in all crocodile products became regulated and strictly controlled.

The production of crocodiles and crocodile products by individual producers in South Africa is strictly regulated by the country's Nature Conservation Authorities and the trade of all crocodile products is regulated by the stringent requirements of CITES.

These stringent requirements have had a positive effect on the wild crocodile population in Southern Africa with current wild cocodile sensusses suggesting a four fold increase in the wild population since 1974.

Under CITES the trade in crocodile leather meat and by products such as fat/oil take place and the crocodile industry in South Africa is contributing significantly to the creation of jobs, the generation of foreign currency, tourism and the protection of important wild crocodile populations.

The oil used in the making of Repcillin is obtained from a the SACFA (South African Crocodile Farmers Association) who are all registered with CITES

For more information on the CITES organisation click here

Juvenile	Adult

Common name:	Nile crocodile; African crocodile
Scientific name:	Crocodylus niloticus (above photos showing the sub-species Crocodylus niloticus cowiei)
Distribution:	Worldwide distribution
CITES listing:	Appendix I and II [populations of Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (subject to an annual export quota of no more than 1,600 wild specimens including hunting trophies, in addition to ranched specimens), Zambia and Zimbabwe]
See also:	Resolution Conf. 11.12 on Universal tagging system for the identification of crocodilian skins
Photo:	© Peter Dollinger (taken at Carama Beach and Praslin, Seychelles)