Scientists say that eating reptiles could increase a person’s risk of various zoonotic diseases.

Thai consumers have started eating crocodile meat following the spike in prices for pork.

Reports of confirmed cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Thailand has led to a decline in pork supply, causing more and more people in the country to turn to crocodile meat.

This turn in events has improved earning prospects for crocodile farmers who have lost business due to the pandemic.

Some 20,000 crocodiles are now slaughtered in Thailand on average each month for their meat, a figure that has doubled in recent months, local media reported this week. 

 An average crocodile yields about 12 kgs of meat and retails for about $3 per kg. Croc farmers say the meat tastes like chicken. Moreover, it is low in fat and high in protein.

While different parts of the reptile “can be prepared in various ways, it’s the upper part of the tail that’s the tastiest and is the bestseller,” crocodile farm owner Wichai Rungtaweechai told the Bangkok Post

 Crocodile meat industry impact

According to experts, the increased market of crocodile meat in Thailand will further threaten the population of reptiles in the region since excessive poaching has often led to the extinction of most reptiles in the past.

The Siamese freshwater crocodile, native to Thailand is already critically endangered and extirpated from many regions.

Moreover, a study, by the World Health Organization, found that eating reptiles could increase a person’s risk of various zoonotic diseases.

In the study published in the journal International Journal of Food Microbiology, titled “Biological risks associated with consumption of reptile products,” scientists found that alongside the diseases, numerous bacteria are found in reptile meats,  which could manifest dangerous illnesses  harmful to human health. 

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