A Thai crocodile farmer, known by his nickname “Crocodile X,” faced an agonizing choice as Typhoon Yagi wreaked havoc in Southeast Asia. Natthapak Khumkad, a 37-year-old owner of a crocodile farm in Lamphun, northern Thailand, revealed that he had to euthanize more than 100 critically endangered Siamese crocodiles to prevent them from escaping into the nearby community.
As relentless rains from the typhoon eroded the walls of his crocodile enclosure, Natthapak frantically searched for a new home for the crocodiles. Yet, no space was available that was secure enough to contain the massive reptiles.
Natthapak ultimately prioritized the safety of local residents over the reptile. He told CNN, “I had to make the most difficult decision of my life to kill them all. My family and I discussed the potential consequences if the wall collapsed. The damage to people’s lives would be far greater than we can control. It would involve people’s lives and public safety.”
Despite the crocodile farm’s 17-year history and its resilience through numerous rainy seasons, this year’s prolonged downpours proved disastrous. With the enclosure’s erosion rapidly progressing, Natthapak faced a pressing ultimatum—take immediate action or risk a larger catastrophe. “I had to make a decision in less than 24 hours when I saw the erosion progressed rapidly,” he explained. He ultimately chose to electrocute the crocodiles, a method he considered necessary given the dire situation.
Typhoon Yagi’s impact has been catastrophic across several countries, including the Philippines, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam being the most severely affected. The storm has claimed over 500 lives, with many still unaccounted for. In Thailand and Myanmar, heavy rains and flooding have forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.
