Species Use Database

Crocodile ( NNg'wena or Ng'na) in local Cibemba or Cinyanja Languages respectively.
Crocodylus Acutus

Used for Food and feed, Medicine and hygiene, Collection/display, Learning and education, Scientific Research, Ceremony, religious, and ritual expression, Decorative and aesthetic and Materials and construction in Zambia

A. Species

Scientific name: Crocodylus Acutus

Common name(s): Crocodile ( NNg'wena or Ng'na) in local Cibemba or Cinyanja Languages respectively.

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Vulnerable


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Zambia

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: Zambia


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2012

End Year: 2020


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Hunting and/or Trapping of live terrestrial and aerial animals

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed, Medicine and hygiene, Collection/display, Learning and education, Scientific Research, Ceremony, religious, and ritual expression, Decorative and aesthetic and Materials and construction

Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community), Largescale commercial exploitation for trade, Recreational, Traditional/Cultural/Spiritual and Population/Area Management

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law, Legal by customary law, Illegal under national law, Illegal by customary law, Some use is legal and some is illegal, unknown and not recorded


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people, Non-local Internal, Non-local External, National / local government, National / local private sector, International private sector and unknown


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: Wildlife ranching and crocodile farming have a turnover of ,USD15.7 million per annum, compared to USD16 million from the public game management areas which encompass an area 29 times larger. The wildlife ranching industry employs 1,200 people (excluding jobs created in support industries), with a further ,1,000 individuals employed through crocodile farming. Wildlife ranches generate significant quantities of meat (295,000 kg/annum), of which 30,000 kg of meat accrues to local communities and 36,000 kg to staff. Projected economic returns from wildlife ranching ventures are high, with an estimated 20-year economic rate of return of 28%, indicating a strong case for government support for the sector. There is enormous scope for wildlife ranching in Zambia due to the availability of land, high diversity of wildlife and low potential for commercial livestock production, (jonathan barnes, The Zambian wildlife ranching industry: scale, associated benefits, and limitations affecting its development, 2013).

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The number and area of wildlife ranches in Zambia increased from 30 and 1,420 km 2 in 1997 to 177 and ,6,000 km 2 by 2012. Wild ungulate populations on wildlife ranches increased from 21,000 individuals in 1997 to ,91,000 in 2012, while those in state protected areas declined steeply. Wildlife ranching and crocodile farming have a turnover of ,USD15.7 million per annum, compared to USD16 million from the public game management areas which encompass an area 29 times larger. The wildlife ranching industry employs 1,200 people (excluding jobs created in support industries), with a further ,1,000 individuals employed through crocodile farming. Wildlife ranches generate significant quantities of meat (295,000 kg/annum), of which 30,000 kg of meat accrues to local communities and 36,000 kg to staff. Projected economic returns from wildlife ranching ventures are high, with an estimated 20-year economic rate of return of 28%, indicating a strong case for government support for the sector. There is enormous scope for wildlife ranching in Zambia due to the availability of land, high diversity of wildlife and low potential for commercial livestock production.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The species has the worth to contribute to country GDP and impact the economy if sustainably addressed.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species

The primary cause for the under-performance of the Zambian game ranching industry is inadequate legal protection against poaching. The lack of an adequate and appropriate legislative framework, and a system of fees and permits which create inhibitive barriers to wildlife ranching. Such barriers are largely absent for livestock production. There is need for decisive steps and robust legislation to address poaching. Sentiments towards wildlife ranching were negative among many ranchers due to the financial costs, inconvenience and risk to personal safety arising from poaching. Bushmeat poaching in Zambia is unusual in that it is done primarily with firearms. Poachers operate knowing that most game scouts are unarmed and will face legal action if they defend themselves.


Record source

Information about the record source: scientific_pub and expert_knowledge

Date of publication/issue/production: 2013-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

The Zambian Wildlife Ranching Industry: Scale,
Associated Benefits, and Limitations Affecting Its
Development.
https://www.academia.edu/30927802/The_Zambian_wildlife_ranching_industry_scale_associated_benefits_and_limitations_affecting_its_development

Date of record entry: 2024-05-15