Who knew crocodiles were this tough to catch?
Thai officials have now failed multiple times in capturing the prehistoric-looking brute that has been making unwelcome appearances off Phuket’s popular beaches.
The reportedly two-meter reptile was first seen near Rawai beach last Wednesday, but has resurfaced in multiple locations near beaches on the Andaman Sea since then. Though authorities have come into close contact with the creature several times during the wild goose chase, the wily croc has continued to evade capture.
Thawee Thongcha, the mayor of Karon town on the west coast of Phuket, said that the crocodile-hunting team came very close to capturing the beast when it came out of the water to bathe under the moonlight on Karon beach early yesterday morning.
“The crocodile-catching team rushed to the beach. They tried to throw a net at the crocodile but failed to snare the reptile. Their attempts failed several times. The crocodile immediately went back into the water,” he told the Thaiger.
“We have seen the crocodile in the water several times. Everytime it comes out of the water, we try to catch it.”
A sign warning people not to swim was placed on Karon beach yesterday.
Nichom Sooksawas, a crocodile capture expert and head of the Southern Freshwater Fisheries Prevention and Suppression Center, said today that the plan is to wait for the reptile to emerge onto the shore again, reported Matichon.
When the croc is in close enough proximity, his team will capture it by hand or, failing that, use hooks and nets to envelop the elusive reptile.
Nichom is confident that the beast will be back on dry land before too long, and authorities are reportedly stationed at different parts of the beach around the clock.
After assessing five crocodile farms in the district without finding any evidence of breakouts, authorities have been unable to identify precisely where the beast came from.
The Siamese crocodile is listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
In Thailand, there are just a handful of wild populations in central and western national parks.
Additional reporting by AFP.
