To save lives, Thai farmer forced to kill 100 crocodiles

International

A CROCODILE farmer in Thailand was forced to kill more than 100 crocodiles on his farm to ward off victimizing people after typhoon Yagi hit the country early this month.

Natthapak Khumkad, 37, who operates a Siamese

crocodile farm in Lamphun, northern Thailand, said the wall securing the crocodile tank is not strong enough, especially with those reptiles that are large in size with some 13 feet long.

Natthapak said it was very difficult to make, especially since his farm has been operating for 17 years already.

He contacted the government for assistance for temporary shelter of the reptiles but was reportedly rejected due to large sizes.

He had a discussion with his family about the risk if the wall collapsed and the crocodiles would roam around the countryside and ended up risking public safety.

“I had to make a decision in less than 24 hours when I saw the erosion progressed rapidly,” Natthapak said per a CNN report.

The farmer electrocuted 125 of the crocodiles, including the 4-meter-long croc named Ai Harn, the eldest breeder of the pack.

Pornthip Nualanong, the chief of Lamphun’s fishery office commended Natthapak proactive measure saying it was a “brave and responsible decision”.

“Since if any of those grown-up crocs were running loose in nearby paddy fields it would pose (a serious risk to) public safety,” Pornthip said.

A Siamese crocodile is a medium-sized freshwater reptile with a prominent bony crest at the back of its head. It feeds on small animals like frogs, fish, and snakes.

It is widespread across Southeast Asia but has become the world’s most endangered reptile whose population can be seen in remote areas in Asian countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Even being endangered, it is widely bred in farms in Thailand for their skin.

Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm in Asia this year left dozens of people dead and thousands of people in China and Southeast Asia homeless in September this year.(LAO)