Crocodile Warning For North Bangkok

[george]

CROCODILE WARNING

Thai city offers bounty for fugitive crocodiles

BANGKOK, October 16, 2011 (AFP) - The ancient Thai city of Ayutthaya, which has seen its temple engulfed in the kingdom's flood crisis, has discovered a new menace lurking in the floodwaters -- crocodiles.

Around 100 reptiles are thought to be on the loose after escaping from farms in the area and authorities have issued a 1,000 baht ($33) bounty for each crocodile caught alive, said Public Health Minister Vitthaya Buranasiri.

"The crocodiles need to be captured to keep people safe," he told AFP.

The creatures have been spotted in several areas of the former Thai capital, a World Heritage site and major tourist attraction.

Thailand's worst floods in decades have inundated huge swathes of the kingdom, swallowing homes and businesses, shutting down industry, and forcing tens of thousands of people to seek refuge in shelters.

About 300 people have died in the disaster, although there have been no known incidents of animal-related deaths resulting from the flooding.

The natural resource ministry has dedicated a hotline for people wanting to report wild animals on the loose in flooded areas.

"We are now coordinating with the fishery department for a hotline about any loose animals in the flood areas, whether it is tigers, snakes or crocodiles," said an official, who said the department has received "many phone calls".

The ministry said government agencies have been dispatched to catch the creatures, but was unable to disclose how many had been caught. The hotline number inside Thailand is 1362.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-16

[wellred]

100 crocs? Are they full grown or babies? Either way I hope they catch them all sooner rather than later.

[Asianrider]

Repeat of Pattaya crocodile farm last month

[TomJoad]

Hope it's not a slow news day back home. This is just the kind of story CNN loves to run with.

[londonthai]

I don't think that 1000bath anybody will be bothering to call the office, the skin and meat of the snake or crocodile is worth many times that much

[wlcart]

Great, offer 1000 baht for some clueless person to go catch a crocodile. Brilliant.

[smallzer]

They better be snappy... Those crocs will be getting hungry!

[kumsamut]

if they give 10,000 baht per croc, people might catch it quicker.

[koto]

I don't think that 1000bath anybody will be bothering to call the office, the skin and meat of the snake or crocodile is worth many times that much

Collect the baht, sell or eat the meat, sell the skin, I'm sure the main concern is to remove them and adding a reward is just another way to accomplish

this dangerous problem.

[DonGato]

Tigers!!!????

[sirchai]

They better be snappy... Those crocs will be getting hungry!

Around 100 reptiles are thought to be on the loose after escaping from farms in the area and authorities have issued a 1,000 baht ($33) bounty for each crocodile caught alive, said Public Health Minister Vitthaya Buranasiri.

I'd rather shoot them with a Bung Fai, before they'd eat me alive.

But wait, there're some people I do not like. Let them play Crocodile Dundee...

Please see attached photo if you haven't seen a living one so far......

Edited October 16, 2011 by sirchai

[sirchai]

Great, offer 1000 baht for some clueless person to go catch a crocodile. Brilliant.

1,000 baht was paid to Isaneros who joined the "Rally". Why can't they offer a bottle of Lao Khao sizip and a free Somtham a day? Loads of people would find them, or get eaten alive.....

[bangkockney]

Ayutthaya isn't in north Bangkok...

[BuffaloRescue]

Couldnt some australian expats volunteer to catch them?

[brd]

Great, offer 1000 baht for some clueless person to go catch a crocodile. Brilliant.

Beware all farangs to have a crocs hunting licence or a work permit as a kind reminder before venturing to assist...................

[chinook]

Somebody make George a coffee

Ayutthaya isn't in north Bangkok...

[WarpSpeed]

Couldnt some australian expats volunteer to catch them?

I'm from Florida, used to bag gators all the time, but I don't have a work permit ...

dam_n! Brd beat me to it!!

Edited October 16, 2011 by WarpSpeed

[cowslip]

What sort of crocs are they?

Estuarine are really quite dangerous.

"Freshies" are fish eaters and would normally avoid humans - they don't eat things that big. - however if they've been kept in captivity then they might not fear humans - I wouldn't want to be bitten even by a freshie.

Presumably these animals are being farmed for the skin (and meat) - so they have a value to the owner and the reward will reflect this?

[cfrmatt]

£20.00 to go and catch a live crocodile..sounds a really good idea lol

[bitterbatter]

Great, offer 1000 baht for some clueless person to go catch a crocodile. Brilliant.

HeHe some wannabe crocodile hunters get drunk, want to impress the lady, and pay her bar fine, go out swimming...

[bitterbatter]

What sort of crocs are they?

Estuarine are really quite dangerous.

"Freshies" are fish eaters and would normally avoid humans - they don't eat things that big. - however if they've been kept in captivity then they might not fear humans - I wouldn't want to be bitten even by a freshie.

Presumably these animals are being farmed for the skin (and meat) - so they have a value to the owner and the reward will reflect this?

More than likely its not the farm owner, but some saavy hi so politician who knows how to sell the goods on the black market... either that or a gourmet chef at a spendy restaurant, who knows how to tenderize the 'delicacy' - crocodile- using a green papaya marianade...

[leobeerman]

Great, offer 1000 baht for some clueless person to go catch a crocodile. Brilliant.

They need some clueless person to do it, Steve Irwin is no longer available...

[rotary]

CNN....Oh yea the Communist News Network....ha ha. CNN is horrible about blowing almost anything out of shape and making up their own details.

Hope it's not a slow news day back home. This is just the kind of story CNN loves to run with.

[veryruay]

What a pathetic reward!! 1000 Bht for a Croc!!! The best joke in decades!

[khaowong1]

if they give 10,000 baht per croc, people might catch it quicker.

There you go. 1000 baht is chump change. Most people would rather kill them and eat them than to cash em in for a 1000 baht.

[khaowong1]

Ayutthaya isn't in north Bangkok...

good observation.

[bristolgeoff]

don,t go swimming then in bangkok

[JohnBozi]

same laughed my head off that you would go and risk your life for a thousand baht.

[Abduljabbar01]

Wow, sounds like a Thai Movie script here in the making.

[Sam Drucker]

This is at least the fourth (if not fifth) time in two years that flooding has caused crocodiles to escape. Wouldn't the government get a clue by now that maybe they need to regulate crocodile farming and establish some code on how to contain these creatures and prevent flooding from allowing them to escape? Cripes!