Review – Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo

[bowie]

Yesterday the better half been getting’ antsy ‘bout the house. She’s a clean freak and when at home if she don’t have gloves, a bucket and a rag in hand she feels incomplete. So she decided to do a Crocodile Farm run, got a Thai couple to accompany us and off we went. Nonthaburi to Samut Prakan, all of 50 clicks and three full hours in Bangkok traffic. Crawl speed, and the Thai’s do it on a daily basis.

Entry fee: Falang THB 350, Thai THB 20. Interesting eh, I was the only falang there. Let the wife hndle the cash, when I asked her how much for falang, she said 350, and for Thai, 20, Iresponded in Thai “thieves”, the ticket taker looked down at his shoes (something was interesting down there, least ‘till I moved on). He agreed with me but, just doing his job.

Now The Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo is about 70 years old. I been there a few times in my Thai times, the first in ’92 or ‘93, maybe ’91. And, how things have changed. Forget ticket prices, I think way back when, admission was a single price, not sure.

In the early ‘90’s the place was well maintained. And, really, the decline appears to have occurred recently. Was there about a decade ago and nothing struck as “poorly maintained” or “neglected” as it did yesterday. In a nutshell, the business has been abandoned. The two-tiered pricing, there were only three buses in the parking lot – easily large enough for a couple dozen plus the long stretch of empty street with shoulders that could easily accommodate additional buses.

If memory serves me right, and I’m sure it does, the Crocodile Farm was a most busy and bustling place full of tourists “earlier”. Looking at old pictures – the place was packed. Yesterday – it was empty.

The Crocodile Farm got some very bad reviews on trip advisor concerning animal cruelty – I didn’t observe any animal cruelty – but, a fine line between where neglect is defined as cruelty. Also, there is a PETA campaign against the tourist venue.
https://investigations.peta.org/samu...nimals-abused/

Anyway, regardless of PETA’s claims, what I observed at the Zoo was par for the course with my observation concerning Thai’s and animal husbandry. Only a pampered pooch does well.

Back to the business operation. The crocodile farm has a massive number of crocodiles, and, they have to be fed. With virtually no tourists (3 busloads of flag following Chinese) does not a business make. The restaurant – fully staffed with 6 or 7 attendant Thai waitstaff, had four customers at lunchtime (us). Not another sole in sight. However, as we were leaving for the crocodile show three Thai’s came along looking int the restaurant.

No Money – and definitely not enough to support the farm. Signs of neglect everywhere, no maintenance, no upkeep, and, no visible effort to repair damaged “stuff”. And, lots and lots of damaged stuff to be seen.

Will see about the tedious job of posting pix. Uploaded 36 pix into album “Samut Prakan” take a look if you desire.

[bowie]

[Mendip]

I've been there a couple of times, the last time was about three years ago with wife and nipper.

My feelings were exactly as yours - I don't think wilful cruelty but neglect everywhere. The same result for the animals?

The sight of out of condition, bored tigers in tiny cages is one of my memories. We decided it would be our last visit.

We're spoiled in Korat - a great zoo with loads of space where the majority of animals have roomy enclosures and seem well cared for.

[bowie]

[bowie]

[kmart]

I've been there a couple of times, the last time was about three years ago with wife and nipper.

My feelings were exactly as yours - I don't think wilful cruelty but neglect everywhere. The same result for the animals?

The sight of out of condition, bored tigers in tiny cages is one of my memories. We decided it would be our last visit.

We're spoiled in Korat - a great zoo with loads of space where the majority of animals have roomy enclosures and seem well cared for.

Agreed. Though I've given up going to any place in Thailand that has "animal shows" or zoos. Basically exploitative, tawdry, and occasionally downright cruel. Mostly frequented by Chinese or Russian tourists who don't give a fuck either way, tbh.

[Mendip]

Thankfully we don't get Chinese or Russians in Korat - and it's not often I find a positive about the place. Although that could change if rumours that Korat airport is going to used in the future by budget airlines for flights to/from China are true.

Zoos seem to be a lottery for the inmates. At Korat zoo the antelopes, zebras, giraffes etc have loads of space. The chimpanzees and gibbons have islands to themselves (but the Thais still manage to chuck bags of crisps to them). Unfortunately the big cats and smaller monkeys don't do so well and are stuck in smaller enclosures or cages.

We usually come away from Korat zoo feeling happy about the visit, whereas our last visit to the Samut Prakan left us a bit deflated with a bad taste.

[armstrong]

Feeding the crocodiles with a piece of meat on a stick is pretty fun. Pretty sure I got in for Thai price too with my Thai driving licence. A good day out for us but we do live in Samut Prakan. Not sure it's worth a long drive.

[David48atTD]

I've never been.

Everytime the opportunity arose I was um, er ... 'busy'

SWMBO took the rugrats there last year and all seemed to enjoy.

Thanks for sharing

[taxexile]

Feeding the crocodiles with a piece of meat on a stick is pretty fun. Pretty sure I got in for Thai price too with my Thai driving licence. A good day out for us but we do live in Samut Prakan. Not sure it's worth a long drive.

i doubt it is even worth a short drive.

that any parent should consider introducing their children to the animal kingdom by dragging them along to such a circus of neglect and cruelty is beyond me. some people really are too unthinking and dumb to sire offspring.

magnificent animals captured and imprisoned, beaten, starved, chained and abused purely for the amusement of stupid selfie snapping chickenhead wives and their bovine falang spouses who should know better than to support any thai attraction that make a profit from the torture of animals. and it is just that, torture.





hard to say if this is an exhibit or a paying guest.

Pretty sure I got in for Thai price too

but never mind armstrong, at least you got in for the thai price. you showed 'em eh? gotta stretch that teflers salary.

[armstrong]

Every penny helps tax.

[cyrille]

He tells himself that every morning, waiting until he can use his free bus pass.

Then watch toothless crones in the more downmarket Harrogate cafes dangling eclairs into their mouths.

Not so different, really.

[taxexile]

Harrogate

harrogate ???

[Saint Willy]

Never been a fan of crocodile farms and shows. I recall some fella got his head bitten a couple of years back. Som nam nah. Risk your life for a few pennies? Not me.

[bowie]

[Saint Willy]

Yip, thats the one. Ouchie