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Disgusting Animal Abuse in Thailand

Oct 30, 2012 Robert Schrader

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When my friend Pin told me last Tuesday that we were going to pass my final day in Thailand at a “crocodile farm,” I had a bad feeling. Having visited Thailand’s controversial “tiger temples,” after all, I know that Thais have no problem exploiting animals for the sake of entertainment.

Animal cruelty at Samutprakan Crocodile Farm in Thailand

Unfortunately, the man didn't get eaten

My suspicions were confirmed even before I entered the gate of Samutprakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo, located about 30 minutes of east of central Bangkok. I had a terrible feeling about the place — and the price, at a very steep ฿300 — but since Pin had driven us all the way out there, I wanted to give the place a chance, at least.

How is a monkey chained to a table supposed to be entertaining?

We headed pretty immediately into the “crocodile stadium,” but not before happening upon our first instance of animal cruelty. Think this monkey looks bad? The smell, which was pretty clearly from its waste not being adequately cleaned, was overwhelming. If I hadn’t been covering my face, I would’ve definitely cried. Pin implored me to look away.

The real thing wasn't too far off

Samutprakan Crocodile Farm’s stadium itself was also clearly in need of maintenance — a far cry from the one used in the comparatively ethical “Croc Shows” at the Australia Zoo. I tried to keep to my emotions and expectations in check, but the imagery used to decorate the stadium made it difficult to think of anything but animal exploitation.

I think this crocodile must've been drugged, because I sure wouldn't take this treatment sober

Miraculously, he didn't get his hand bitten off

Unfortunately, I set my expectations far too low: The crocodile “keepers” literally dragged the animals out of the shallow pools where they’d been resting so that they could tease and taunt them on the concrete. This mostly involved poking and hitting them with sticks, but an one point, one of the young men actually put his hand inside the crocodile’s mouth. I’m shocked it didn’t get bitten off!

I have no idea what happened after that, because we didn’t stick around long enough to find out. At this point, I truly wanted to leave the place altogether, but for some reason, we ended up walking around for a little while longer.

Hm, why's that elephant standing over there so obediently?

Oh that's right. He's chained!

The good news? Crocodile cruelty is confined to the stadium. The bad news? Cruelty at Samutprakan Crocodile Farm isn’t just confined to crocodiles.

Samutprakan Crocodile Farm is even cruel to artificial animals

To make matters even worse, the place is filthy, poorly decorated and generally feels like the cesspool it is. I really don’t like to use Leave Your Daily Hell as a platform for talking shit, but I will say unequivocally that Samutprakan Crocodile Farm is the worst place I’ve ever visited. I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody, unless you have a role in animal rights and can help these poor creatures.

Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo

hours, directions, and contact info

Tagged as: Ethics

About The Author

Robert Schrader is the author of 516 posts on Leave Your Daily Hell.

Robert founded Leave Your Daily Hell in 2010 so that other travelers would have an entertaining, reliable source of information, advice and inspiration at their fingertips. Want to travel more often? Subscribe to email updates today!

http://GreenGlobalTravel.com/ Bret @ GreenGlobalTravel

Thanks for posting this, Robert. You should reach out to PETA, WWF and Defenders of Wildlife with this story and see if they can point you in the direction of someone who could do something about it. Worse case scenario, you end up having a connection at a major wildlife organization!
Megan Bonnett

Thank you for shedding light on that wretched place…what a terrible way for those amazing creatures to spend their days…
https://plus.google.com/116480057469316097585?rel=author Robert Schrader

Yes, it is awful, and unfortunately, I had no way to fight against it in Thailand. I can only hope my publication of this article — and promoting it as Bret suggested above — will shed light on it. Oh and by the way, Megan, you should read Bret’s blog Green Global Travel, being the rockstar naturalist that you are.
https://plus.google.com/116480057469316097585?rel=author Robert Schrader

Bret: I am definitely going to do that! I casually copied PETA on the tweet, as you probably saw, and am hoping someone catches wind of it that way. But I definitely want to call attention to this, since dozens like it certainly exist elsewhere in Thailand. Unfortunately, because Thailand has no organizations protecting wildlife (none accessible to English speakers, anyway), I couldn’t take action while there. I want to make waves!
Dianaprince

Southeast Asia is the pit of hell for countless animals. Many of the animals that wind up in glass tanks on top of the TV in your aunt’s living room for the amusement of your cousins sourced from SE Asia and spend their lives going psychologically mad and physically lame in the name of “education”. 9 out of 10 don’t even make it that “far”. Thanks for bringing this issue forward, Robert.
Bplives

Unfortunately this type of ‘amusement’ is not confined to SE Asia. I was however highly amused when I (reluctantly) visited the Cairo Zoo about a decade ago and amongst other violations I came across the ‘Birds of Prey’ show where this guy goes into the cage with the eagles, vultures etc and teases them with dead rats so they flap around for a photo op basically. Well on this particular day it seems that a couple of these birds had had enough and started attacking the zoo guy. All talons and beaks, hilarious. He escaped a bloody mess but i bet he thought twice before going in that cage again.
Dianaprince

Animal abuse for profit is rampant throughout the world and, often, well-meaning people do not realize the behind the scenes realities for the animals in the shows and exhibits they are financing. It’s supply and demand 101. If someone is willing to pay to see xyz animal doing whatever ridiculous thing, someone is willing to provide the animal/s regardless of how they get them, “train” them, keep them. My comment was more to about the actual pet trade coming out of Southeast Asia, animals that wind up in people’s living rooms but, yes, animal abuse disguised as entertainment occurs throughout the world.
https://plus.google.com/116480057469316097585?rel=author Robert Schrader

Yeah and it’s sick. I felt a little horrible even being there in the first place, but I would like to think my attendance will be offset by people who read this article and choose not to go.
https://plus.google.com/116480057469316097585?rel=author Robert Schrader

Is it terrible that I wished the crocodile “trainer” would’ve had his hand bitten off?
http://twitter.com/finaltransit Priyank Thatte

Hi Robert,
I think this is trivial compared to the animal factories in north america that manufacture chicken, beef and other animals for consumption. That said, abuse is abuse and it will be hard to get away from using animals for entertainment as long as we are curious about the things they can learn to do.
btw, google elephants and chains to find why these monstrous animals are so tame.
https://plus.google.com/116480057469316097585?rel=author Robert Schrader

Priyank: I definitely agree with you — as a former vegan who was heavily indoctrinated/educated by PETA, I am all too aware of the abuses of factory farming in North America.