Crocodile farm culls 125 reptiles amid Thai flood fears

A Crocodile farm in northern Thailand culled 125 Siamese crocodiles to prevent them from escaping as floodwaters threatened to breach enclosures. The decision was made by the farm’s owner, Mr. Natthapak Khumkad, after days of relentless monsoon rains eroded the farm’s walls, putting nearby communities at risk.

The heavy monsoon rains that swept across northern Thailand in September have caused severe flooding and landslides, resulting in over 20 deaths. In Lamphun Province, where Mr. Natthapak’s farm is located, floodwaters severely damaged enclosures, sparking fears that the three-meter-long crocodiles could escape and threaten both villagers and livestock.

“The rain was eroding the farm walls, so we sadly had to kill all 125 crocodiles,” Mr. Natthapak told AFP. “We’ve had them for 17 years.”

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The farm workers electrocuted the crocodiles, and photos on Mr. Natthapak’s social media showed a digger removing some of the massive reptiles. While the Siamese crocodile is critically endangered in the wild, it is widely bred on Thai farms for its skin.

Though Mr. Natthapak said he sought help from the government to find a temporary refuge for the animals, his request was denied due to the size of the reptiles. The culling has raised concerns over emergency animal management during natural disasters.

Mr. Patarapol Maneeorn, a vet from Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, commented on the tragic decision. “This could be a lesson learned in how to handle dangerous animals during natural disasters,” he told AFP, acknowledging that relocation could have been an option under different circumstances.