The pond was in danger of bursting due to heavy rain but could not find another solution, forcing farm owner Natthapak to electrocute the 125 crocodiles.
Images of the bodies of many large crocodiles being transported by cranes at a farm in the northern province of Lamphun attracted public attention in Thailand last week, when many people criticized the farm owner for deliberately killing and destroying a large number of crocodiles. .
Natthapak Khumkad, 37 years old, the farm owner, then posted on Facebook an image of a crocodile pond damaged by floods caused by Typhoon Yagi to explain his actions in a desperate situation.
“This is the reason why I had to make an urgent decision. That day it rained very heavily and did not stop, the pond wall was eroded, causing the wall to almost collapse,” Natthapak said.
At that time, there were 125 crocodiles in the pond, 90 of which were raised for breeding, very large in size, and could not be controlled if they escaped.
The wall of the crocodile pond was eroded by rainwater, causing the wall above to be at risk of collapsing. Image: Khaosod
Nattapak established three response strategies. Initially, he directed the farm staff to try to fix the wall problem as quickly as possible, but continuous heavy rain posed great risks to the repair, causing the plan to fail.
The second option is to temporarily relocate the crocodiles, but there is no place safe enough. Natthapak also contacted the local government to find a new home for the crocodiles, but was refused because they were too large.
Having no other choice, he and his staff had to choose the third option, using electric shock to kill 125 Siamese crocodiles to ensure safety when the risk of the wall collapsing was increasing.
“It was an emergency situation, requiring a quick decision in less than 24 hours. Destroying the crocodiles was the last resort, also the best, fastest and safest solution at that time, when the weather fell.” Continuous rain. If it wasn’t urgent, we wouldn’t have chosen this method. Thank you everyone for your encouragement and understanding,” Natthapak wrote on Facebook.
Natthapppak Khumkad next to the large crocodiles that have just been destroyed. Image: Khaosod
Natthapak, who has run the crocodile farm since 17 years ago, said he consulted his family before making the decision and everyone in the family agreed to destroy the crocodiles, prioritizing safety. for the surrounding people.
“It was the most difficult decision of my life. My family and I agreed that the falling wall would be a disaster, threatening people’s lives,” Natthapak shared. “We have never recorded such a case during the rainy season in the past 17 years. The rain in Kamphun this year is extremely heavy and very harsh.”
Natthapak’s decision was praised by local officials. Pornthip Nualanong, head of Lamphun province’s fisheries management agency, called this a “responsible and courageous” decision, emphasizing the potential danger when adult crocodiles escape from cages and enter rice fields. vicinity.
“This can be a lesson learned on how to handle dangerous animals during natural disasters,” said Mr. Patarapol Maneeorn, a veterinarian with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Thailand, said.
The last image of the fish before being destroyed. Image: Khaosod
Natthapak added that the 125 destroyed crocodiles were sold separately for the skin, while the meat was grilled and sold. His farm has also been trading in grilled beef and pork for a long time.
“This is the first time we sell grilled crocodile, maybe the first party to do this dish in Thailand. Crocodile meat was not welcomed by Thai people, but now it is more accepted. But now look at the pond.” The crocodile is empty, I also feel a bit disappointed,” he said, but did not share whether the wall would eventually collapse or not.
The wild population of Siamese crocodiles in Thailand has decreased sharply due to hunting and large-scale farming activities, with only a few hundred animals estimated to be left living in the natural environment.
The crocodile farming industry in Thailand generates $180-210 million in revenue each year, highlighting the complex relationship between conservation needs and commercial enterprise.