Phuket tourists can breathe — and swim — easy once again now that Thailand’s most elusive crocodile was caught on Sunday morning, after evading capture for a whopping 12 days.
The prehistoric-looking brute was reportedly first seen near Rawai beach on July 18 and had since made multiple unwelcomed appearances on popular Phuket beaches. The croc was finally captured on Layan Beach in the early hours of Sunday, when authorities found it hiding behind the rocks, reported Channel 3.
The croc hunters surrounded the beast with three nets before seizing it by hand.
An initial examination showed the crocodile to be female, with a length of 2.5 meters and a weight of about 150 kilograms. For comparison’s sake, that’s roughly what a full-grown giant panda weighs.
The crocodile has since been taken to Phuket’s Coastal Aquaculture Division 5, a marine research and development center in Phuket’s Thalang district.
At a press conference on Sunday, Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong speculated that the croc is not from the wild due to the moss on its back, which strongly indicates that the reptile spent a lot of time in enclosed waters.
He went on to suggest that it most likely came from an illegal, unlicensed farm given its lack of a microchip required for all privately owned crocodiles.
The governor warned that the croc’s owner — who has yet to be identified — could face up to a year in prison and/or a fine of up to THB10,000 (about US$300).
Authorities also reiterated that all crocodile owners must gain permission and register at the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office in order to avoid legal charges.
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