Crocodile Farm and Zoo

This beautiful Saturday we headed out to the Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Samutprakan, Thailand (a little to the south of Bangkok)! It is the largest croc farm in the world with over 40, 000 crocs and 28 different species. We had a great day seeing a Croc show, an elephant show and tons of other animals. First of all, this is a "Thai" croc farm and zoo. Pretty much anything they do here would not remotely be allowed in the States. But, that being said, it made it tons of fun!

As soon as we got there, we headed to see the Croc Show. Two guys come out and stir up the croc pit and drag crocs up on the cement center. They held them, used bamboo sticks to place in their mouths before pulling it out quickly while the crocs jaws snapped shut (loud, loud sound), placed their hands in the crocs mouth and their heads in the crocs mouths! It was beyond entertaining and totally crazy! The guys were a riot (totally in Thai, but we all thought they were so funny - thankfully humor translates languages)! We enjoyed it immensly! At the end, you could pay 200 Baht to go down and have your pic taken with a huge croc in the middle. Seriously, a live crocodile. For $5.88. Only in Thailand. Because PETA and OSHA (or whoever) would have been all over this place if it was in the States!

Then, we got to see a Bengal tiger chained up on a "not so safe" looking chain. You could get your picture taken with the tiger for 200 Baht. Or a chimpanzee or a albino python or a leopard. You could literally pet the Bengal tiger. And the 2 people in charge of him were just sitting on chairs near him chatting. We were never really sure if anyone was actually a zoologist at the Zoo or just random workers. I told Dan, "You know when you read crazy stories on CNN about a tiger escaping at a zoo halfway around the world in some country you don't really pay attention to and it eats innocent bystanders and you think, "Yeah, well, that's Thailand for you" it could actually be MY children we would be reading about!" He wasn't as fazed. Thankfully he thought the croc show was insane. At least I wasn't the only one!

Then we got to ride on a little train 1/2 way around the zoo to see the elephant show! The elephants (4 in all) walk around in this amphitheater-type place. You can buy a bunch of little bananas for 10 Baht to feed them. Each of the elephants does a trick or 7 and will come up to the stands to try to get bananas. Again, amazing and kinda sad. The elephants walked on their hind legs, walked on cable wires while balancing, peddled a bicycle, bowled with soccer balls, sat on seats, stood on a stand, danced and pooped and peed (part of Dan's favorite things of the day) - I don't think that was planned, though. :) Then, we got to go down, pet them and feed them bananas! You could also ride on another elephant waiting on the side for 200 Baht. It was Kylie's favorite (along with the hippos).

After the excitement of the elephants, we were pretty hungry and went in search of lunch! We found a good place to eat - that served Croc meat - and we got a plate of Pad Thai, Chicken with Cashews and Chicken Fried Rice! So yummy, all the kids liked it and we spent $9 for lunch! Neither Dan nor I could bring ourselves to order croc meat. Me because it grossed me out and Dan because it was too expensive for a meal :)

Dan got to purchase a couple of raw chicken rib cages and fed the crocs. The kids and I got to get ice cream.

Because it was also a Zoo, we got to see Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh My! And leopards, porcupines, hippos, all kinds of monkeys, snakes, monitor lizards, horses, a camel, ostriches, peacocks, racoons, deer and chickens (i think they were raised there to be dinner for the crocs)! All of the animals were only separated by a chain link fence. ALL OF THEM!!! (read the sign on the fence below - surprisingly the only warning sign we saw in the whole place)! more tomorrow...