A batch of crocodiles in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China was put up for judicial auction because their owner owed construction fees for building a crocodile pond. The buyer must be responsible for capturing them themselves.
According to Red Star News, on the 18th, a reporter learned from Alibaba Judicial Auction Platform that the Zhongshan Second People's Court in Guangdong Province is publicly selling a batch of crocodiles on the platform, with an asking price of 168,000 RMB (about 98,800 MYR).
The person subject to execution, Hu Chengli, is a female entrepreneur in the crocodile industry. Some people online refer to her as "China's first female crocodile trainer" and the "crocodile goddess." She has been featured by the media multiple times, but since 2020 she has been listed by the court as a dishonest person. This auction is due to Hu Chengli's unpaid construction fees for the crocodile pond.
According to the announcement from Zhongshan Second People's Court, after consulting relevant authorities, the crocodiles involved in the case are eligible for disposal and circulation. This auction will be conducted based on the current condition of the crocodiles, and delivery will follow as such; there is no guarantee of quality. Any resulting issues will not affect the auction’s final result or price.
The announcement states that crocodiles are aggressive, highly dangerous wild animals and require professional personnel and tools for capture. Bidders in this auction must possess a Crocodilian "Aquatic Wildlife Artificial Breeding Permit" and must have the appropriate breeding facilities and necessary capture and transport qualifications to accommodate the number of crocodiles.
The announcement specifically reminds that after a bidder wins the item, pays the auction price in full, and is notified by the court to be present, they must handle the relevant procedures themselves and be solely responsible for the capture, weighing, loading, unloading, and transport of the auctioned items.