Australian farm to hold 50,000 crocodiles for luxury Hermès goods questioned by animal welfare groups

Farm to supply skins to make handbags and shoes would be one of the biggest in Australia under plan approved by Northern Territory government

The high-end French fashion brand Hermes wants to build one of Australia's biggest crocodile farms in the Northern Territory that would hold up to 50,000 saltwater crocodiles to be turned into luxury goods such as handbags and shoes.

But the proposal has come under fire from animal welfare groups, who say other fashion brands have moved away from using exotic animal skins on cruelty grounds. Advocates told Guardian Australia they had concerns about the welfare of the crocodiles, and that farming animals for luxury goods was no longer fashionable."