Thailand's crocodile farms

Thailand's crocodile farms

Chonburi, Thailand
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Thailand is home to some of the world's biggest crocodile farms, where tourists can see the giant reptiles lounging in the hot sun, chomping on chicken, or swarming in emerald green pools.

Some 1.2 million crocodiles are kept on more than 1,000 farms in Thailand, according to figures from the Thai department of fisheries. Some are equipped with slaughterhouses and tanneries to produce luxury products.

. Ayutthaya, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm is one of Thailand's biggest and has been operating for 35 years.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

"We're an all-in-one farm, creating jobs for the people, creating income for the country," said Wichian Rueangnet, the owner of Sri Ayuthaya, which has an estimated 150,000 crocodiles.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Sri Ayuthaya is registered with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), allowing it to legally export products made from the critically endangered Siamese freshwater crocodile, including to top buyer China.

. Ayutthaya, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

"We do everything from raising crocodiles to slaughtering, tanning and exporting crocodile products," Wichian said.

. Ayutthaya, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Crocodile leather products include Birkin-style handbags, which sell for up to 80,000 baht ($2,356) each and crocodile leather suits, which fetch around 200,000 baht ($5,885), Wichian said.

. Bangkok, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Crocodile meat is sold for as much as 300 baht per kg (2.2 lb). The bile and blood of the reptile, made into pills because they are believed to have health benefits, are worth 40,000 baht and 500 baht per kg, respectively.

. Chonburi, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

The industry has been facing a setback as exports of Thai crocodile leather products fell more than 60 percent in 2016 to 13 million baht ($382,578) from 34 million baht ($1.00 million) in 2015, commerce ministry figures show.

Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat

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Slideshow

A worker collects crocodile eggs at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm.
. Ayutthaya, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

A worker collects crocodile eggs at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm.

Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.
. Chonburi, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.

Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen in a basin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.
. Chonburi, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen in a basin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.

Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm.

A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.
. Chonburi, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.

A crocodile eats a chicken head at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.
. Chonburi, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

A crocodile eats a chicken head at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.

A zoo performer reacts as he puts his head between the jaws of a crocodile during a performance for tourists at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.
. Chonburi, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

A zoo performer reacts as he puts his head between the jaws of a crocodile during a performance for tourists at Sriracha Tiger Zoo.

Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm.

Dyed crocodile skins hang at a crocodile leather tannery.
. Samut Prakan, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Dyed crocodile skins hang at a crocodile leather tannery.

Workers prepare dyed crocodile skins at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.
. Chonburi, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Workers prepare dyed crocodile skins at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.

Chinese tourists touch a dyed crocodile skin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.
. Chonburi, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Chinese tourists touch a dyed crocodile skin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm.

Dyed crocodile skin.
. Samut Prakan, THAILAND. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Dyed crocodile skin.

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