Alligator leather

Alligators are very similar in look to crocodiles, but come from a different type of animal family. There are numerous anatomical differences between both species which are very similar to the degree of differences between mice and rats. The metabolism of alligators is much slower than that of crocodiles, and this means they usually live for twice as longer.

Alligator leather bag from approximately 1940 and a bag with integrated head of the alligator from the 50's.

Alligators are located in the marshes, lakes and rivers of North America (Mississippi) and China. Chinese alligators usually measure 1.8 meters in length, while the American variant can reach six meters.

Unruly hunting practices predominantly for leather production meant their numbers were greatly reduced for a long time. However, since CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora) came into force in the 1970s, alligator stocks in the USA and China have risen again. .

In the United States, their population has risen from approximately 100,000 to 1.5 million alligators. In addition, 500,000 alligators are kept in breeding stock in the USA. Each year, approximately 33,000 hides of free-ranging alligators are processed in the USA and approximately 275,000 of breeding alligators. 85 percent of them come from Louisiana.