KT

 

Authorities in Siem Reap are racing to recapture four crocodiles still on the loose after a mass breakout from a private farm earlier this week. The reptiles escaped from a pond owned by 30-year-old Chheung Simak in Taleav Village, Ta Som Commune, Angkor Chum District, on 12 November.

 

According to the Siem Reap Province Information Department, 30 crocodiles managed to flee the enclosure, which originally housed 73 animals. A rapid response team, working alongside local residents, has since recaptured 26 of them. The remaining four are still at large, prompting safety warnings across the district.

 

Local authorities have urged residents to avoid canals, ponds, and other water sources until the search is complete. The District Disaster Management Committee is monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with wildlife officers to ensure public safety.

 

Crocodile farming is a longstanding industry in Cambodia, particularly in provinces like Siem Reap, Battambang, and Kampong Thom. Farms typically raise crocodiles for their skins, which are exported for use in luxury leather goods, as well as for their meat and teeth, which are sometimes sold for traditional medicine or ornamental purposes. Cambodia is home to both the native Siamese crocodile—critically endangered in the wild—and hybrid or non-native species bred in captivity.

 

While most farms operate legally under licences issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, concerns have been raised in recent years about overcrowding, poor containment infrastructure, and the risks posed to nearby communities. Escapes, though rare, are not unheard of. In 2019, a two-year-old child was killed after falling into a crocodile enclosure in Siem Reap, sparking renewed scrutiny of safety standards.

 

In this latest incident, the cause of the breakout has not yet been confirmed, but officials suspect a breach in the pond’s fencing or gate system. The farm owner is said to be cooperating fully with the authorities.

 

No injuries have been reported so far, but the presence of large, potentially aggressive reptiles in populated areas has understandably alarmed residents. Search teams are continuing their efforts, using traps and patrols to locate the missing animals.

 

Officials have reminded the public not to attempt to approach or capture the crocodiles themselves, and to report any sightings immediately.

 

-2025-11-14

On 11/14/2025 at 11:38 AM, geovalin said:

Authorities in Siem Reap are racing to recapture four crocodiles

 

On there way to the Thai border to snap up a trespassing meal on Cambodian soil?