Crocodilians including Nile crocodiles and saltwater crocodiles are farmed for luxury leather and meat, with welfare conditions in many facilities falling far short of the animals complex needs.
Crocodilian welfare in farming is almost uniformly poor. These animals are housed in densities and conditions that prevent all natural behaviours: thermoregulation through basking, territorial movement, complex social interaction, and aquatic foraging are all prevented by typical concrete holding facilities. The welfare science on crocodilian cognition and sentience is less developed than for mammals and birds, but growing evidence of behavioural complexity suggests their welfare needs have been systematically underestimated. Luxury brands profiting from crocodilian skins bear particular responsibility for supply chain welfare standards given the enormous margins in their products.