“Crocodiles Worth Rs 4.7 Crore Go Up for Auction in China, But No Takers Yet”
In an unusual move, a Chinese court has put nearly 100 tonnes of Siamese crocodiles up for auction — with a starting price of Rs 4.7 crore (around four million yuan) — but so far, not a single person has signed up to bid. Hosted on Alibaba’s Judicial Auction platform, the auction has drawn over 4,000 curious viewers, yet none have taken the plunge.
Launched on March 10 and running until May 9, the auction comes with several conditions. Buyers must physically pick up the crocodiles and bear all associated costs, including weighing, loading, and transporting the reptiles. Additionally, only individuals or companies holding a special license for breeding aquatic wildlife under the crocodile category are eligible. They must also have the necessary infrastructure and logistics to handle such a massive and sensitive consignment.
The crocodiles once belonged to Guangdong Hongyi Crocodile Industry Company, established in 2005 by Mo Junrong — a man once dubbed the “Crocodile God” in China. However, after his company failed to meet financial obligations, the court moved to liquidate its assets, including the crocodiles.
In China, crocodiles are farmed for their skin and meat, which are used in everything from traditional medicine and cosmetics to leather goods and even wine. Since 2003, Siamese crocodiles have been on China’s list of wildlife that can be commercially farmed.
This isn’t the first attempt to sell the reptiles — two earlier auctions held in January and February with higher prices failed to attract any buyers. The current auction has gone viral on Chinese social media, where people are both fascinated and bewildered.
“It’s terrifying. Who would actually buy them?” one user wondered, while another quipped, “This isn’t for an ordinary person. You’d need an entire industry just to manage them.”
The story also comes just months after 70 crocodiles escaped from a farm in Guangdong’s Maoming city due to flooding caused by a typhoon, leading to dramatic images of the animals roaming the streets.
For now, the crocodiles remain unsold — waiting for someone brave (and equipped) enough to take them home.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
