Farm owner in trouble over escape of crocodile
The owner of a breeding farm in Phetchabun province has allegedly admitted that a two-metre-long crocodile discovered in a home in Muang district on Saturday had escaped from his farm, possibly via the air duct during the severe flooding.
Somkiat Tangpaitoon, the owner of Kiat Farm in Tambon Sadiang, was found to have not renewed his licence to operate the farm when provincial fishery officials, along with Tambon Sadiang Administrative Organisation president Prathim Naksamran, went to inspect his facility.
The officials said they would suspend the farm’s operations and seize all the crocodiles there.
Somkiat also faces the charge of allegedly running a breeding farm of a protected species without permission, which is punishable by one year in prison and/or Bt10,000-Bt40,000 in fine.
Somkiat said the farm, which has been in operation for 30 years, had raised about 100 crocodiles in two large enclosed pits – one for breeding crocodiles and the other for crocodile babies. The farm owner allegedly admitted that the crocodile might have escaped due to the water logging, which may have enabled the reptile to reach the air duct on the pit wall about 20cm from the floor. 
According to locals, two crocodiles were spotted on Saturday and authorities were currently hunting for them.