Color of money is white for Indonesian businessman

Color of money is white for Indonesian businessman

JAKARTA (Reuters): White skin. White fur. Red eyes. To zoologists, these are classic signs of an albino animal. But to one Indonesian businessman, they mean big money.

In five years -- and despite the economic meltdown crippling the country -- Chandra Hendrawan Gunarto has turned a small albino breeding farm into an export empire, selling everything from albino snakes to monkeys.

"I saw that people would pay 50 to 100 times more for albino animals than they would for normal ones," he told Reuters.

Hidden behind closed gates in Serua Village on the outskirts of the bustling Indonesian capital, Chandra's tranquil breeding farm covers three hectares and employs 20 people.

He does not talk publicly about how much money he makes, but says profits have boomed since he began exporting three years ago.

"Even as we started, the profits were abundant. When these importers want something we have, they will pay large sums of money. That's their weakness."

But the qualities that set these animals apart in the eyes of well-heeled buyers also shortens their lifespan in the jungle.

"Albinos are particularly difficult to find in the environment because their discoloration, or lack of pigment, causes them to become easy prey to other animals.

"So they are often eaten before we ever get to find them. Breeding becomes the ultimate alternative."

Chandra's customers are happy to pay his prices -- up to $800 for an albino python -- and even get into bidding wars with other clients.

"Demand is growing for albino animals, whether it be for resale or as pets," he said. "People are willing to bid high prices for them."

Chandra's operation has the support of animal rights groups in Jakarta who say it eases pressure on natural animal populations and reduces the attraction of poaching.

"Breeding -- albino or normal animals -- is good for conservation of the wildlife population," said an official of PANTAU, a non-government organization formed to monitor wildlife breeding.

"It takes the pressure off nature when people reduce their tendency to hunt as long as the government strictly monitors it.

"As long as all requirements are met by the industry, followed by strict monitoring from the government... business and nature can go hand in hand."