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| Nothing says "you're not in Canada anymore"
quite like an afternoon in the company of 60 000
crocodiles. And so, in the spirit of fearless
Thailand travels, I embarked upon a daytrip to
Samut Prakarn. Here the reptiles range from newborn
to world record-holders, all housed together in
the world's largest crocodile farm. |
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| While organized trips to the Samut Prakarn Crocodile
Farm can be purchased through any Bangkok-based
travel agency, the independent spirit can make
the trek with ease. From Bangkok, the orange 511
bus from Sukhumvit Road will take you into Samut
Prakarn, though be warned that commuter traffic
can make this ride a lengthy one. From the city
centre, the famous farm is a mere 10-minute tuk-tuk
ride away. |
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| After paying your 300 baht admission, your first
glance of crocodile will be in steak, purse, or
shoe form. The main entrance to the farm houses
an expansive gift shop of croc meat and leatherware,
a darkly funny touch. Once inside, crocodile-enthusiasts
have a maze of options. Animal-lovers could easily
occupy a whole day here. In addition to a massive
crocodile population, this farm has a large zoo
and elephant shows, located oddly close to the
local shooting range. |
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| There are 60 000 crocodiles lurking inside,
including the largest in captivity, the appropriately-named
Yai ("large" in Thai), measuring 6 metres in length
and weighing a record-breaking 1,114.27 kg (2,465
lb). |
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| While guided tours dish out the reptile facts,
visitors are welcome to walk freely around the
crocodile tanks. There are rows of cement pens
housing baby crocodiles en masse. A more daring
crocodile fan can cross the rickety wooden boardwalks
over giant tanks, where hundreds of adult crocodiles
lurk on the land and water, moving with the eerie
stealthiness that makes them so fascinating and
also terrifying. For a newcomer to the reptile
world, there is something truly menacing in the
slow silence of the reptiles. A highlight of the
crocodile experience occurs on these boardwalks,
where 20 baht will buy a dead chicken that can
be thrown into the tank. The result is a heart-racing
show of quick lunges, snapping jaws, and deep
growls as the meat gets devoured. Graphic, yes.
But exciting? Absolutely! |
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| The farm boasts two amphitheatres, each housing
the hourly crocodile handling or elephant acrobatic
shows. While both spectacles are light and family-friendly,
the gimmicky croc show falls short of the "crocodile
wrestling" promised on the pamphlets. The elephant
acrobatics will amuse all ages in a show where
elephants paint pictures with their trunks, and
are trained to collect money from audience participants. |
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| Located close to the exit, the farm's "handicapped
crocodile wing" is not to be missed. Like a carnival
sideshow, it boasts crocodiles both rare and deformed.
Crocodiles that are albino, tiger-patterned, 6-legged,
fork-tailed and more are kept in smaller tanks
so visitors can easily spot their unusual markings
and traits |
| Since it was founded in 1950, the farm has expanded
into a tourist multiplex with a zoo, dinosaur
museum, countless foodstalls, and even go-karting,
and have received mixed reviews from visitors.
Still, the farm is a very worthwhile experience
for reptile enthusiasts and curious sightseers
alike. An afternoon spent watching, feeding, and
fearing the crocodiles is an unforgettable one. |
Anne Merritt is Canadian and has an English Literature
degree. She has worked as a journalist for a university
newspaper. She is currently living in Ayutthaya as an
ESL teacher and is sharing her experience of Thailand
with KhaoSanRoad.com. |
