Hobby and huge profits… The spread of breeding reptiles and rare birds on the roofs of houses in Egypt

In recent years, the breeding of reptiles, birds and predators has spread in Egypt for the purpose of trade and profit, as the roofs of houses have been widely used in these projects.

Young people depend on raising species that are not found in abundance in Egypt, whether they are reptiles that are “forbidden to be sold” or the higher-priced birds, as some animal prices reach about 70,000 Egyptian pounds (illegal trade) and the price of pigeons, for example, reaches about 15,000 pounds. Egyptian (about $1,000), (legal trade), while reptiles can reach a few hundred pounds.

damage to the environment

Resolution No. 4 of 1994 issued by the Ministry of Environment stipulates the preservation of animals in the Egyptian environment and the prohibition of trafficking in them and their circulation in the markets, and that trading is carried out under the supervision of the stipulated authorities.

illegal trade

Many reptiles are illegal trade, as young people depend on buying them from smugglers, as is the case for crocodiles, snakes and turtles, and selling them in some markets, or through various intermediaries and advertisements.

Usually, reptiles that are “not allowed to be traded” are sold in popular markets, as is the case in the “Friday Market” in the Sayeda Aisha area in ancient Egypt, or via the Internet and personal communication through networks of acquaintances.

Mohamed Omar, one of the reptile dealers, told “Sputnik” that “crocodile trade is a profitable trade, as it is brought from Aswan and Luxor through intermediaries, and then raised in ponds and sold at prices starting from 300 pounds for a 30-day-old crocodile. It is sold at about 2000 pounds when it reaches a length of one meter.

Many turtles are also sold in the “Friday Market” and through intermediaries, where prices vary between Egyptian and imported turtles, the price of an imported turtle is about 500 pounds, while the prices of Egyptian turtles are about 250 pounds.

And “breeding snakes is one of the most prominent hobbies in recent years, and many disasters have occurred because of it, especially in the case of raising poisonous snakes, but most of what is sold in the “non-poisonous” markets, as the price of the numbered snake ranges from 200 to 400 pounds,” according to Its size, while “vegetables reach 500 pounds, and the prices of crocodiles also vary according to their size, while foxes are among the things that are sold through intermediaries, and its price may reach about 700 thousand pounds.”

legitimate trade

Among the legitimate trade undertaken by thousands of young people in Egypt is the pigeon trade, and its prices vary greatly.

Mujahid al-Barbari says, “He has been keeping pigeons for several years and selling them, and that he has dozens of types of pigeons that he raises in the governorate of Alexandria.”

In his speech to “Sputnik”, he added, “Some types of pigeons reach the price of a “duo” of 15,000 Egyptian pounds, while the prices of other types range between 2,000 and 7,000 thousand pounds for the duo, and there are many types of cheap ones as well.”

He explained that “some types of pigeons need an incubation, as the breeder puts the eggs in another pigeon’s nest for the period during which they hatch, a task that the Austrian pigeon does not perform, and he cannot feed his young well.”

Al-Barbari pointed out that “a breeder can get 4 “Zaghalil” per month, which brings him a lot of money, if he takes care of it and observes it well.”

Indian poultry

Indian poultry is one of the rare birds in Egypt, and it is considered one of the profitable projects for many young people. Abdel Rahman Adel confirms that many young people can start the project with a small capital estimated at 1,000 pounds, for example, and buys about 4 female Indian poultry and a “rooster.” “.

He added, in his speech to “Sputnik”, that “Indian poultry farming is very profitable because it is not different from raising other poultry, but a “chicken” can be sold at about “400 pounds, while the price of a rooster reaches about 600 pounds.”

Adel pointed out that “there are many types sold at different prices, and some “hybrid” poultry are sold at lower prices than the original types.”