Breeder forced to euthanise endangered crocodiles amid Thai floods
More than 127 Siamese crocodiles had to be put down by a breeder from Lamphun province in Thailand. Local media reported that due to the farm walls being undermined by flooding, she had to make the difficult decision for the safety of the local community. The animals were euthanised using electricity.
Floods in September affected many other countries around the globe. Among these are Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, where the water and hydrological situation is tough due to heavy rains.
In relation to the ongoing floods in Thailand, a crocodile breeder in Lamphun province admitted that she would have to put down as many as 125 of her animals. She made this decision because she feared the animals could escape due to the ongoing floods and pose a threat to the local population.
The rain was eroding the farm walls, so we sadly had to kill all 125 crocodiles. We've had them for 17 years – the breeder, Natthapak Khumkad, told AFP. The woman explained that the Siamese crocodiles were euthanised with electricity.
More than 120 endangered crocodiles died due to the flood
On the breeder's Facebook profiles, photos appeared showing an excavator removing the bodies of the culled reptiles from the farm area. Siamese crocodiles, reaching a length of almost three metres, are endemic to Southeast Asia and critically endangered in the wild. In Thailand, however, they are mainly bred for their valuable skin.
The breeder also explained that she approached the authorities to provide temporary shelter for the crocodiles during the flood. "The request was denied due to the size of these animals," she added.
