Improving The Quality Of Australian Crocodile Skins

Crocodile skin is easily damaged by poor husbandry of the live animal or mishandling of the skins after slaughter, resulting in scratches, infections, staining and microbial degradation and thus substantial loss of value. The project reported here describes research to improve the post-slaughter early stage processing and preservation of skins in order to maintain them in optimum condition. Processes were developed to suit the unique characteristics of crocodile skins, and the particular trading and processing requirements used in this industry, where most skins are exported to specialist tanneries in Asia and Europe.