Thai Farmer Forced to Kill Over 100 Endangered Crocodiles
A Thai crocodile farmer, known by the nickname “Crocodile X,” was forced to euthanize over 125 critically endangered Siamese crocodiles to prevent them from escaping after their enclosure was damaged by Typhoon Yagi. The incident occurred on September 22 at Natthapak Khum’s farm in Lamphun, northern Thailand.
The decision to kill the crocodiles was made to avoid the risk of them escaping into nearby rice fields, which could pose a significant danger to public safety. The farm, which has been operational for 17 years, had never faced such severe damage from heavy rains until this year. The crocodiles, some reaching lengths of up to 4 meters (13 feet), were electrocuted to ensure their humane euthanasia.
The Siamese crocodile is critically endangered, with estimates suggesting only a few hundred remain in the wild. The species has been severely impacted by hunting and large-scale farming. Despite their endangered status, crocodile farming is a lucrative industry in Thailand, generating approximately 6 billion to 7 billion Thai baht ($215 million) annually.
