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Warning - Crocodiles on the loose Search teams with assault rifles scour the area Citizens of Naklua, Banglamung and Pattaya are being warned to stay alert after “many” saltwater crocodiles escaped from the Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm last week.
Anyone who sees a crocodile should immediately evacuate the area and call the authorities. The phone number being circulated to call is for the Banglamung District Information Center (Thai language), tel. 038-222-042. The Thai language emergency phone number is 191; the Tourist Police phone numbers are 038-429-371 and 038-425-937, email [email protected] Local citizens are also being warned to stay away from flooded marsh areas, streams, klongs and ponds in the area, and be extremely vigilant around the local beaches until further notice. Government officials have expressed a “grave concern for the safety of tourists on the beaches in Pattaya” should any of the escaped predators make it to the open sea. Flash floods on November 1 broke a hole through the wall of an enclosure at the Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm where 2,000 saltwater crocodiles, 3-5 meters in length, were being penned. The enclosure was being used as a breeding area, and it is unknown how many baby crocs were inside at the time and may have escaped as well. The park advertises it has 9,367 saltwater crocodiles and 4,828 freshwater crocodiles spread throughout the grounds.
The director of the park, Suan Panomwattanakul said he “assumed” no more than 10 escaped, but unconfirmed reports put the number as “much higher”. The actual number is unknown. As of Tuesday, November 6, there were also unconfirmed reports that up to six have been recaptured and returned to the park. Also as of Tuesday, no injuries have been reported, although a witness in Naklua reported he saw a 4-meter long crocodile vault from a small klong and devour a dog. Local authorities have organized a massive hunt for the extremely dangerous creatures. Heavily armed search parties have been working around the clock to capture and return the crocodiles, or when safety is at risk, to shoot them. Crocodile Farm employees using bamboo poles have been combing the area, backed up by police and military personnel armed with assault rifles and shotguns. Initially, five, 5-man teams, each with an additional experienced crocodile handler from the Million Years Stone Park, were dispatched to search the outer areas and a five kilometer waterway that leads to the ocean in Naklua. On the first day after the flood, two of the large creatures were found in a nearby marsh area and returned to the farm. As the search continued, on Saturday, November 3, Banglamung district chief Vichien Chawalit authorized the use of high-powered rifles and automatic weapons. Governor Chadet Insawang issued a warning to everyone in the area to, “Be careful and stay away from all bodies of water.” Governor Chadet Insawang and provincial police commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Sene Khamthieng conducted an inspection of the situation and held an emergency meeting to devise an appropriate plan to recapture the allusive creatures. The governor also accompanied a search party entering the marshlands surrounding the Million Year Stone Park, but saw no signs of any of the escaped crocodiles. Governor Chadet then inspected the damaged enclosure and ordered park management to insure that high-grade materials were used in repairing the damages, and to build a durable enough enclosure to withstand the elements and prevent any future escapes. Provincial police supplemented the all-out search with local police and a volunteer force that maintained a 24-hour surveillance of the mouth of the Naklua canal leading to the sea. The searches are being continued during hours of darkness when crocodiles are more active and more easily spotted. Officials on Monday, November 5 began devising ways to seal off the Naklua klong that leads into the sea to try and prevent any more crocs from escaping into the sea via that route. Officials also fear that “some” have already made it past them and have escaped into Pattaya Bay. It is anyone’s guess where they may go once they make it to the sea.
Teams of officials were organized to alert residential areas in the adjoining sub-districts and to get residents to report any sightings immediately to the Banglamung district police station. Warnings were issued not to go near the dangerous animals and to refrain from fishing in the lowland areas until further notice. The director of the park, Suan Panomwattanakul said he believed the crocodiles, which are 3-4 meters in length and 15-20 years old, would most likely remain in the immediate area. However, a resident in Naklua, Moo 4, near the canal leading to the sea, reported observing a crocodile nearly four meters in length. He said he saw a dog near the water’s edge; the crocodile surfaced near the bank and in a splash, took the dog in its jaws and dragged it down into the water where it most likely ate it. Amnuay Thongtap, a farmer who lives near the Million Year Stone Park, said he was taking his cows out to graze on November 1, unaware of the escaped crocodiles. He said he saw four crocs sunning on the banks behind the park and when they spotted his group of cows they sprang into the marsh waters. He said he immediately rounded up his cows and headed back home as fast as he could. Amnuay also told news reporters that just a few months ago villagers found three baby crocodiles outside of the park. He said they guessed that the young crocs were no more than a week old.
The crocodile is one of the most ferocious reptiles on earth. It swallows many small animals whole, but will also attack humans and other large animals, often batting them with its tail into a nearby pool of water to make them easier to capture. On land, crocodiles move quickly in a belly crawl but can also gallop and walk mammal-like on all four legs. They are extremely fast over short distances, and are known to capture such swift-footed animals as deer. Therefore, it is very important that if you should see one on the loose, get as far away from it as possible and contact the authorities. Local experts told Pattaya Mail that in the daytime, when not sunning on the banks, crocodiles normally stay submerged in the water. The heavy rainfall, which is flooding the marsh areas, is complicating the search by providing the creatures, fond of solitude, many secluded spots. The experts further described the crocodile’s behavior as “highly unpredictable”, and during mating season or when hungry they become even more dangerous. Crocodiles hunt their prey by staying completely submerged except for their eyes and snout. When they spy a victim, they stealthily move in until close enough to violently thrash out, surprising and capturing their victim. The Million Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm is in Nong Pla Lai sub-district, on 150 rai of land east of Pattaya in Banglamung District. The park also has other wild animals in captivity such as tigers, bears and lions that park management advertises to attract tourists. The park employs a double-pricing scheme, charging foreign tourists several times the amount charged for Thai tourists.
City denies media claims of crocodiles roaming beach areas (Latest development - Tuesday, November 6)
Paint factory explosion kills 11, injures 30
Motorcycle gang drops bomb in toilet
Minister from PM’s Office joins police raid on lewd shows in Pattaya
Jumpy methamphetamine agent arrested at traffic light
String of gas station robberies terrorizes late night attendants Ordeal may be over Vichan Pladplueng Manit Chaicharern, 19, turned himself in at the Pattaya municipal police station on October 29 and confessed to being involved in a string of recent gas station robberies in the Pattaya and Banglamung area. He said two other men were involved, whom he identified as Chaiyant Plemdecha and Boonchuay Yunuch.
The rash of late night robberies had police conducting an intense investigation and search for the bandits. The robberies terrorized young attendants at each location and the string of incidents attained national coverage on the Thai television channel 3 program “Ya Hai Phu Chua Loi Nuan”, a program similar to the U.S.A.’s “America’s Most Wanted” program. Manit told police he became paranoid when the investigation began getting too close. Fearing for his life, he decided to give up before getting caught up in a shoot out during a surprise police raid. The last week in October the gang robbed the Lemon Green station on North Pattaya Road and the Shell station north of Pattaya on Sukhumvit Road. Two other stations were also robbed the previous week and police believe members of the same gang committed each robbery, as the m. o. at each robbery was the same. The young petrol station attendants told police that two or three men would arrive at the station and order the attendant to fill the motorbike tank with 40 baht worth of gas. The robbers would then tell the attendant they were unable to pay for the gas. After leaving collateral, which in at least one case was a Buddha amulet, they would return within the hour and hold up the attendant at gunpoint. The motorbike used in the robbery had no plates. Manit told police that each robbery usually netted the gang of three 2,000 - 3,000 baht to split up. He said just prior to turning himself in, his two former partners in crime tried to persuade him to take part in another robbery before disappearing from Pattaya for a while. Police continue to search for the other two robbers.
Siam Country Club Road construction delayed Administration blames “El Nino” Chakrapong Akkaranant Continuing rains have brought the road construction in Soi Siam Country Club to a halt, resulting in havoc for vehicle traffic and forcing detours around the 1+ kilometers of torn up roadway. City administrators said that the, “Unusual weather conditions, possibly continuing from El Nino are the cause.”
Area residents have been complaining about the terrible condition of the heavily traveled road, saying that it is so potholed and torn-up it is posing driving hazards, especially at night and during heavy rains. To their credit, the Nong Prue sub-district administrative organization didn’t sit still - they set aside a 4.8 million baht budget to correct the situation. Construction started almost three months ago. The paved surface of the designated area was removed, but the excessive rains that followed stalled workers from completing the project. Presently, a thick layer of mud has formed, which shifts after each rain, destroying any progress. Nong Prue maintenance division chief Tongchai Kamlangthai said the sub-district administration organization is coordinating the road construction project, and that that the Pornwatana Construction Company was awarded the contract. They began the roadwork on August 23. The contract states that the construction must be completed by December 1 and includes a clause that stipulates a fine of 4,800 baht will be awarded to the Nong Prue TAO for each day over the agreed deadline. The construction plan includes a complete resurfacing of the pavement on a section 1.225 kilometers long and six meters wide, and the construction of a drainage ditch 423 meters long. Following the completion of road construction on Soi Siam Country Club, next year’s budget request targets resurfacing roads in Soi Khao Talo and Soi Khao Noi.
Tourism, terrorism and trash headline Chart Thai meeting in Pattaya Former PM and 2,000 party members meet at Dusit Resort The eastern Region’s tourism future, the effects recent terrorism will have on it, and environmental concerns were some of the main topics covered at the Chart Thai Party meeting at the Pattaya Dusit Resort on November 4. The conference theme was, “Chart Thai Party Policy and Political Direction for Developing the Easter Region”. Also included was a dissertation on “Chart Thai Party on the Road to Serving the People”.
Chart Thai Party leader and former Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa chaired the conference, and more than 2,000 party members attended, including Chart Thai MPs. Government officials, members from the private sector and people from the general public also showed interest. The Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Sonthaya Khunpluem, who also holds the position of party secretary, announced the proceedings. The terrorist act in America and the allied efforts in Afghanistan were hot topics at the meeting. There is major concern within the party over the affects this will have on area business, tourism, and economic development in the eastern region, as well as the negative social aspects. Minister Sonthaya Khunpluem asserted that the nation’s economy and social setting have been seriously affected by the tragedy in the U.S. and the war declared on terrorism by the allied countries. He emphasized the fact that the tourist industry in Pattaya has especially felt a crippling blow. Minister Sonthaya said the faltering numbers of tourists have forced the TAT and government offices to concentrate their efforts on looking for ways to revise promotional schemes following claims from Osama bin Laden and his followers that no place is safe. “The new promotional phrase receiving emphasis portrays Thailand as a safe haven for tourists, unlike locations elsewhere in the world today,” Sonthaya said, “and the new campaign underway is ‘Security and the Amazing Grand Sale’.” The Minister of Science also spoke of the need, “To increase the use of U-tapao Airbase as an international airport to draw tourists to the region, and as a terminal for major transport around the hemisphere.” Former PM Banharn described Pattaya as a major player in the tourist industry with great potential in many arenas, although he said the city’s future is uncertain until decisions are made to redirect efforts towards promoting tourism. He also stressed the need to continue improving environmental concerns, along with correcting traffic problems and attending to personal safety, with chief concerns directed at proper waste disposal. As for the future of the Chart Thai Party, former PM Banharn said that, “Important factors now facing the party involve establishing the direction of the Chart Thai Party and the political direction for continuing the development in the eastern region.” He said a timeframe of one year was needed to revise positions of ministers within the party to create better feasibility. The hopes for a balanced budget is of concern and current policies are focusing on export, tourism and economizing that former PM Banharn referred to as “out of balance”. Former PM Banharn announced that on the 27th of this month the party would celebrate its 27th anniversary as a political party. Chart Thai’s central office is in Chonburi, and other key party areas include Chachoengsao, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Prachinburi, Sa-Kaeo and Nakhon Nayok.
Updated every Friday Updated by
Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk. |
A
pensive Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm owner, Suan
Panomwattanakul points as equally pensive Banglamung district chief Vichien
Chawalit (2nd right) looks on.
One
more makes it to the net - notice the extra protection in the man’s hand
in the foreground
Heavily
armed search parties are trying to track down the escaped crocodiles
A
local woman returned a baby croc - it is unknown how many more babies might
have escaped
Pranksters
detonated a homemade “bomb” into a toilet at a Sukhumvit Highway
petrol station.
Somsak
Thepsutin, minister to the office of the prime minister, and police raided
bars offering lewd entertainment, some of which had foreign women (sitting
in the background) entertaining.
Manit
Chaicharern confessed to being involved in a string of recent gas station
robberies in the Pattaya and Banglamung area.
Work
on Siam Country Club Road started August 23 and is scheduled to be finished
on December 1.
Minister
of Science, Technology and Environment, Sonthaya Khunpluem (left) discusses
matters with Chart Thai Party leader and former Prime Minister Banharn
Silpa-archa at the Chart Thai Party meeting at the Dusit Resort on November
4.