About two hours south of Bangkok by bus, I found one of the most interesting farms in Asia: the world's largest crocodile farm, called the SamutPrakarn Crocodile farm. Its primary aim is to preserve crocodiles, including some very rare species of the crocodile family. Thousands of crocodiles are housed at the SamutPrakarn Crocodile Farm (100,000 claimed), more than I could imagine. I had to see it to believe it.
Seeing the farm is an all-day event. The best way to get there is by mini-van or air conditioned bus. It's a two hour ride from the center of Bangkok. There are seven major points within Bangkok that offer buses to the site, including the largest number of buses at Victory Monument. Most hotels have shuttles to these bus stations, and can even sell you a ticket for the whole trip right at the hotel. Many hotels even book charter groups to SamutPrakarn that leave directly from the hotel, so check with your hotel staff. Depending on the bus you take, the cost is about $10 to $15 each way. You can also take a private taxi to the farm for about $50.
The Crocodile Farm is open every day from 8 a.m. Until 6.00 pm, and the admission cost is 300 baht (about $10), with a discount for children and various promotions.
The Crocodile Farm grounds are located along the SamutPrakan shores that lead to the Gulf of Thailand. You'll get a chance to see more crocodiles of more varieties and sizes than you ever thought possible. Both fresh and saltwater species are cared for at the farm. There are cute little baby crocodiles in pools, and some extraordinary large crocs up to 20 feet long.
Crocodile shows are performed daily in the afternoon. I saw crocodile wrestling, where Thai men wrestle with the sharp-toothed creatures. I also saw some guys putting their hands and heads into the mouths of crocodiles. A sleep ritual was also demonstrated, where they put several of the animals to sleep by rubbing their stomachs and humming. They allow you to pet a few of the crocodiles - the tail only. One croc wrestler was missing 2 fingers, and you can see scars all over other employees' arms, so I think it doesn't go as planned every day.
Photo: Crocodile Farm's external exhibition hosted at the Mall Bangkapi every year.
Other shows include monkeys, giant birds and elephants. There were also a few hippos, and they seemed angrier and more dangerous than the crocodiles. A couple hippopotamuses got into a fight and it looked a bit scary. They're huge, temperamental animals. The monkey show was a fun, but there are also some wild money on islands in the area, so be careful of them. Monkeys like to steal bags and cameras.
All the animals were treated very well. Even the frightening crocodiles were well fed and cared for. The birds and monkeys also seemed happy and having fun. I am sure it is safe, but it's a bit unnerving to me that there was no secondary fencing. Lots of crocodiles everywhere, and only a thin fence or glass to separate them from you. I'm sure very few get loose, but it did make me wonder. The smell, like any farm or zoo, takes a bit to get used to. Animals do brings new smells with them. If you can handle it, then you'll enjoy the exhibits. Before you depart Bangkok, you can buy a vicks type nose gel to mask the smell (from any drug store).
Animal Hospital
Some deformed and albino crocodiles were being cared for in separate glass enclosures. The doctors assured us they were being treated well. It's hard to tell if a cold-blooded lizard is happy, but they seemed to get good care. The farm is massive and gives plenty of space, water, and islands to the crocodiles. This all simulates the wild.
The gift shop features a pool with very small baby crocodiles, but they weren't for sale as pets. Still no clue as to why they had them there, but it was fun to feed them. They did sell hand-fed parrots and other birds there. It's illegal to have crocodiles as pets in Bangkok, as they are already a problem in the canal system (along with pythons and giant lizards). However, it might be possible to keep them in rural areas where Elephants are also kept. I think a pet bird will suffice for me.
There is also a Dinosaur museum on the grounds, and a place to rent boats.
Beaches and the Ancient City
There are many places to eat lunch at the farm and zoo. There are also some beaches in Samut Prakarn, only a half hour from the crocodile farm. The Ancient City is another great site right next to the crocodile farm and is worth seeing on a second day. Consider spending a night in the province at a hotel and enjoy the Ancient City or the beaches on the next day.
(For a short video of a crocodile wrestling exhibit, click here.)
The trip back to Bangkok is another 2 hours, and traffic can be bad at 6pm. Plan your visit to the Crocodile Farm on the weekend to avoid the business week traffic. I went on Saturday, spent the night at a hotel nearby and enjoyed the beach all day Sunday. It's a fun weekend away from the city.
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