Crocodile Warning!

[george]

Floods refresh freshwater fish population; watch out for crocs

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's worst flood season for many years has been bad news for just about everybody -- everybody, that is, except for the fish, and crocodiles, perhaps.

The kingdom's uninvited 'waterworld', extending from horizon to horizon in some parts of the country, is a boon to the denizens of the much-expanded freshwater waterways.

While Thai families who used to appreciate living 'beside' the Chao Phraya River, very few boast about living 'in' the river.

But for fish? Well, that's a different story. Major floods in Thailand are providing just the right environment and food for many varieties of freshwater fish to take a trip to new places and participate in increasing the (fish) population, a senior fisheries official said on Friday.

Fisheries Department chief Charanthada Kannasut said Thailand's floodwaters are rich with natural food and stimulate fish to reproduce in a large numbers.

The swollen Chao Praya River, which runs through Bangkok, has overflowed its banks and inundated farmlands and rice fields all along its normal course, an annual occurance that is in the nature of being a river.

In fact, it must be remembered that it is nature's way of ferilising and renewing the fields which provide the rice which Thai people eat on a daily basis.

"It also benefits the country's population of freshwater fish," Mr. Charanthada said. As an earlier monarch said, the fish that are to be found in the field provide a balance to the otherwise overly simple diet.

''Naturally, fish are stimulated to lay a lot of eggs during major flooding," the fisheries chief said, because there is plenty of food for them to feed on.''

He warned villagers against trapping fish during flooding by stopping floodwaters from receding into rivers. Such a method of trapping fish is illegal and would be dealt with by the law, he said.

A campaign to encourage local villagers to use 'friendly fishing methods' is on the way and a network of fish conservationists is planned at provincial and grassroot levels.

And crocodiles? Mr. Charanthada, however, appealed to villagers in flood-hit areas to notify the authorities if they see crocodiles on the loose, as the a number of the amphibian reptiles have reportedly escaped from captivity during the floods which hit Thailand's north, northeast and central region since August and have claimed 47 lives.

''It happens every year, whenever there's a flood. Their owners don't know how to keep them safety,'' he said, especially blaming illegal crocodile farms which have mushroomed in recent years.

Thai officials recently seized 200 crocodiles as they were being smuggled here from a neighbouring nation, he said.

--TNA 2006-10-14

[stumonster]

And crocodiles? Mr. Charanthada, however, appealed to villagers in flood-hit areas to notify the authorities if they see crocodiles on the loose, as the a number of the amphibian reptiles have reportedly escaped from captivity during the floods which hit Thailand's north, northeast and central region since August and have claimed 47 lives.

the TNA is doing its bit for tourism in Thailand .....

[guardian]

and only yesterday, I was wondering if such a thing about crocodiles being on the loose would happen real

[Tony Clifton]

Once the water has receded, you'll find more plastic bags than crocodiles or fish.

[londonthai]

in thailand crocodiles do escape from their enclosures even in dry season, and even in Bangkok. Two years ago they escaped from private grounds in Taling Chan area - nobody suffered, but for a while locals couldn't bath in the khlong

[kayo]

George, I've been warning you and everyone else here about HIM for ages mate...

BTW, what was it again last year... Leopards or something wasn't it...???

[Gary A]

Isn't it strange that during the last major flood hundreds of crocodiles escaped. There were no complaints and many of the farmers were walking around with happy bellies. They like to eat crocodiles and the crocodiles are in MUCH more danger than the natives.

[george]

Update:

Breeders lock up their crocs

NAKHON SAWAN: -- Crocodile breeders in Nakhon Sawan are being forced to keep the reptiles locked inside their own homes for fear they could get loose in the heavy flooding and create a danger to humans and livestock.

Phairoj Thongpaen has moved 60 crocodiles from his farm to his home in tambon Khaew Yai in Muang Nakhon Sawan district. The small ones are kept in clay jars or laundry enamelware while larger ones are in a bathroom on second floor.

He said the door to the bathroom was tightly nailed shut to prevent the reptiles from escaping as floodwater had reached the second floor of his home. Phairoj claimed none of his crocodiles had got loose despite the heavy flooding.

"If my home doesn't collapse, no crocodiles will escape," he said.

Phairoj said around 20 small crocodiles and a few large ones had died. He planned to stuff them later and sell them to collectors for Bt10,000 each.

In tambon Sakae Krang in Muang Uthai Thani district, many large crocodiles measuring up to 3 metres have been relocated from the second-largest crocodile farm in the country to a safer place in tambon Nong Phai Baen that belongs to the owner of the Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm, the largest in the country.

--The Nation 2006-10-16

[londonthai]

just talked to my cousin in Ang Thong province (near Ayuthaya) - out of 2000 crocs in that province some 1800 crocs escaped from farms. Unlike wild crocs those bred in farms are easy to spot and kill, they don't know how to hide. When they are hungry they will stay at the surface.

it's not that easy to shoot them, farmers electrocute them but it's dengerous for the hunters and many get killed themselves

[sriracha john]

A worker loads alligators onto a truck during an evacuation of reptiles to higher ground to prevent them from escaping from a farm threatened by floodwaters in Uthai Thani province.

REUTERS

[Jai Dee]

Thais rush to move crocs amid rising flood waters

UTHAI THANI, Thailand (Reuters) - Workers at a flood-threatened crocodile farm in central Thailand rushed on Wednesday to move hundreds of the reptiles to higher ground to stop them from swimming away.

Authorities in the central province of Uthai Thani, 220 km north of Bangkok, ordered the evacuation of some 4,000 crocodiles on Sunday, most of them kept in pens alongside a river swollen from monsoon rains.

"I am confident that these crocodiles will not swim away from my farm, but I have to move them to other farms for the sake of public safety," said farm owner Amorn Jittapinitmas, who has raised crocodiles for meat and skin for 35 years.

The reptiles, ranging from palm-sized newborns to 20-year-old breeding parents more than 3 metres (10 feet) in length, are first rendered unconscious with an electric prod.

Workers then tie their snouts, legs and tails and row them in boats to nearby farms.

"The relocation is 100-percent safe because they are tied up with tight ropes. If there is a boat accident, the crocodiles would not hurt people, but they would die," Amorn said.

The 60-strong team has worked around the clock and expected to move the last 200 crocodiles by the weekend, he said.

Source: Reuters - 19 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Royal Thai Police warns crocodile raisers of penalties for letting their animals escape and harm others

The Royal Thai Police is mobilizing its manpower to assist flood victims, and warned crocodile raisers of Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner-General Achirawit Suphanphesat (อชิรวิทย์ สุพรรณเภสัช) said a 100,000 baht cash has been approved for assistance to flood-affected policemen in each province. Provincial police stations in flood-affected areas have been told to send in requests of converting flat-bottom boats into patrol boats to assist people in the area. Royal Thai Police also warned crocodile owners who fail to inform officials of any escape by the animals, saying that cases resulting in harm to others would be charged with both civil and criminal offenses.

Md. Wanthanee Watthana (วันทนีย์ วัฒนะ), president of the Police Wives' Association, today received items from various private sectors which would be forwarded to flood victims. She said most of the flood-hit people were stressed but still had good morale. Powdered milk, items for infants and a large number of boats are still required in numbers.

People may donate at any agency under the Royal Thai Police, which would emphasise on assisting people in hard-to-reach areas or those who have yet to receive aid.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 October 2006

[eljeque]

"And crocodiles? Mr. Charanthada, however, appealed to villagers in flood-hit areas to notify the authorities if they see crocodiles on the loose, as the a number of the amphibian reptiles have reportedly escaped from captivity during the floods which hit Thailand's north, northeast and central region since August and have claimed 47 lives."

47 lives since August!!!! I have not heard about ths on TV. That is more than one eevry other day. This is not on the tele.

[sriracha john]

Royal Thai Police warns crocodile raisers of penalties for letting their animals escape and harm others

Royal Thai Police also warned crocodile owners who fail to inform officials of any escape by the animals, saying that cases resulting in harm to others would be charged with both civil and criminal offenses.

*shaking my head*

What’s the standard, established fine for allowing a crocodile loose to devour an entire family of seven, including Grandma and little Somchai??!?!

[sriracha john]

Workers carry an alligator to a truck during an evacuation of reptiles to higher ground to prevent them from escaping from a farm threatened by floodwaters in Uthai Thani province.

Reuters

ooops.... a couple of them got loose..

just kidding

[Asian Frog]

And all the crocodiles in the various administrations....

[astral]

A worker loads alligators onto a truck during an evacuation of reptiles to higher ground to prevent them from escaping from a farm threatened by floodwaters in Uthai Thani province.

REUTERS

Which shows how much Reuters knows.

We have crocodiles here.

A quick Google shows that alligators live in America.

[Asian Frog]

It is better to announce "alligator" instead of crocodile in order not to frighten the tourists...

[PhilHarries]

A campaign to encourage local villagers to use 'friendly fishing methods' is on the way.............

They are going to catch them, haul them out the water, kill them (or let them suffocate), gut them, cook them and eat them. Just where is there room for friendship in that process?

[Jai Dee]

Warnings on reptiles and venoms during flooding

Impacts from the flood situation in the lower part of northern Thailand and the central region are still worrying.

Aside from all the damages to property, cautions need to be taken with the venoms and reptiles especially the crocodiles / alligators. Pol.Gen. Achirawit Supanpaysut (อชิรวิทย์ สุพรรณเภสัช), Deputy Commissioner-General and Spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, has warned crocodile owners who do not move the animals from inundated areas and let them harm people. The owners must face both civil and criminal lawsuits. Warnings have been given out to those who live near rivers to be aware of all crocodiles and venoms during this period of time.

The government has invited everyone in the private and public sectors to donate for the flood victims in 46 provinces.

The donations can be made through banks as follows: account name- Flood Relief Fund of the Office of the Prime Minister, Government Savings Bank: Government House branch, account id-00-0025-20-014972-3.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thailand evacuates 4,000 crocodiles

Rivers swollen from monsoon rains have prompted central Thailand authorities to order the evacuation Sunday of 4,000 crocodiles kept in pens alongside the rivers to higher ground.

Workers at a flood-threatened crocodile farm in Uthai Thani province on Wednesday rushed to move hundreds of the reptiles to stop them from swimming away.

"I am confident that these crocodiles will not swim away from my farm, but I have to move them to other farms for the sake of public safety," said farm owner Amorn Jittapinitmas, who has raised crocodiles for meat and skin for 35 years.

"I have built 3.2-meter (10-foot) high tanks for them using concrete blocks, but enormous amounts of water are pouring in," Amorn added. "The water has flooded over a meter (yard) already. I'm scared the water is going to rise even higher."

Monsoon rains flood parts of Thailand every year, ending usually in late October. There are often reports during the flood season of farm-raised crocodiles that escape and wander through swelling rivers and inundated villages.

The reptiles, ranging in size up to 10 feet long, are first rendered unconscious with an electric prod. Workers then tie their snouts, legs and tails and row them in boats to nearby farms on higher ground.

"The relocation is 100 percent safe because they are tied up with tight ropes. If there is a boat accident, the crocodiles would not hurt people, but they would die," Amorn said.

Intermittent flooding since late August has left 56 people dead across the country, the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center said.

Source: Xinhuanet - 22 October 2006