But this only set the scene for what was to come.
Crocodilians possess a most beautiful skin.
Hard and ossified on the back for protection and support, yet soft, streamlined and flexible on the sides and belly, crocodilian skin has been in use around the world for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used it, the Romans used it, and native people from Africa, the Americas and Asia used it. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, skin became fashionable as well as functional. After World War II, demand for crocodile skin skyrocketed. Hunters in Australia were all too happy to relieve the reviled saltwater crocodiles of their profitable skin, and uncontrolled harvests reduced wild populations dramatically.