A 400kg crocodile was safely relocated from a flooded temple in Prachinburi after rising floodwaters threatened to allow the reptile to escape into a nearby river.
The operation took place on Sunday afternoon (27 Sept) at Wat Pho Thong, where floodwaters had reached the crocodile’s enclosure.
A multi-agency response team including volunteers and residents assembled after receiving an urgent request from the temple abbot.
The crocodile, a 27-year-old male named “Chao Nuea Thong (name transliterated from Thai)”, measured more than four metres long and weighed around 400kg.
Source: Tnews
The water inside its enclosure had risen to around 1.3 metres, raising concerns that the reptile could escape as water levels continued to rise.
To safely remove it, responders restrained the crocodile’s jaws and limbs with ropes before moving it onto a dry road.
Source: Tnews
A crane truck was then used to lift the animal onto a transport vehicle.
Chao Nuea Thong was later transferred to a temporary holding facility in a nearby subdistrict around 20km away that was not affected by flooding.
The successful evacuation brought relief to temple officials, residents, and rescue teams, who feared the crocodile could have entered the Prachin Buri River if it escaped.
Source: Tnews
Authorities said the relocation helped prevent a potential danger to nearby communities during the ongoing flooding.
Also read: 5.7m-long crocodile captured in M’sia town, 10th & largest caught from same river this year
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Featured image adapted from Tnews.