Unusual Court Auction in China: 100 Tons of Live Crocodiles Up for Grabs
- International Affairs South China Sea
Shreya Naskar- 0
- 3 minutes read
In a bizarre turn of events, a court in China has launched an online auction featuring 100 tons of live crocodiles, sparking widespread interest and amusement on social media. The Shenzhen Nanshan People’s Court has listed the reptiles for sale at a staggering four million yuan (approximately US$550,000), with the unusual condition that buyers must collect them in person. The crocodiles were once part of the assets belonging to Guangdong Hongyi Crocodile Industry Company, a firm established in 2005 by Mo Junrong, a renowned entrepreneur dubbed the “Crocodile God.” However, following the company’s default on financial obligations, the court moved to liquidate its assets, including the large stock of reptiles. The online auction, hosted on Alibaba’s Judicial Auction Platform, opened on March 10 and is scheduled to continue until May 9. Despite attracting over 4,000 views, no one has registered to bid as of the latest update. The court had previously conducted two separate auctions in January and February, starting at five million yuan and four million yuan respectively, but both failed to attract buyers.
The unusual auction has become a source of entertainment on Chinese social media, with many users expressing amusement and curiosity about the sale of live crocodiles. Some have questioned the practicality of buying such a large quantity of reptiles, while others have joked about the challenges of transporting and caring for the animals. This is not the first time a Chinese court has auctioned off unusual items. In September last year, the Dafeng District People’s Court in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, auctioned a bottle of Sprite once owned by a bankrupt millionaire. The starting bid was set at 4.2 yuan, prompting online debates over possible misuse of judicial resources. The sale of live crocodiles raises several concerns, including animal welfare and logistics. The court must ensure that the animals are handled and transported safely, while buyers must consider the challenges of caring for such a large quantity of reptiles.
The auction of 100 tons of live crocodiles in China is an unusual and intriguing case that has captured the attention of social media users and raised questions about animal welfare and logistics. As the auction continues, it remains to be seen whether a buyer will come forward to take on the challenge of caring for these reptiles. In a country where judicial auctions are typically associated with more conventional assets, such as property or securities, the sale of live animals is a rare occurrence. The outcome of this auction will likely have implications for future cases involving unusual assets and highlight the complexities of handling and disposing of such items. As the world watches with curiosity, one thing is certain – the sale of live crocodiles is a unique and fascinating case that highlights the unpredictable nature of judicial auctions in China.