Thai Girl's Crocodile 'Playdate': Mother Says They're Harmless, Netizens Disagree

Pictures of a four-year-old girl (name not revealed) in Thailand playing with hundreds of newborn crocodiles (hatchlings) have sparked global concern online. According to the Thai TV channel Thaich8 News, in early July, a Thai lady Kwanrudee Siripreecha posted several videos of her daughter playing with more than 200 baby crocodiles. The clips show the young girl happily lying in a pool, covered with the reptilian hatchlings, holding a few in her hands. Kwanrudee’s Facebook profile shows that she operates a crocodile farm in Thailand.

Kwanrudee told Thaich8 News that her daughter has been fascinated with the hatchlings since she was 2 years old. According to her, ”My daughter loves to put the newborn reptiles in a water bowl and watch them swim.” The crocodile farm operator said that the crocodiles her daughter plays with are less than 15 days old. According to her, “They haven’t grown teeth yet, so they don’t bite.” The crocodile farm operator says that she still closely monitors her daughter while she plays. She would also pull her out of the pool if there was any hint of danger.

The Thai mother told the portal that when these baby crocodiles grow bigger, develop more teeth, and have thicker skin, her daughter won’t be able to play with them anymore.

Kwanrudee faced immense criticism on social media for this act. A concerned tweeted on X that there could be repercussions even if the baby crocodiles don’t bite her daughter. The person added that water could contain the crocodile’s secretions and bacteria. Another wrote that playing with crocodiles might give other kids a misguided sense of danger.

According to the report, Thailand is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of crocodile products. These products include leather, meat and other by-products. As per the Thai Department of Fisheries, the country boasts more than 1,000 farms that produce 1.2 million crocodiles. The online sources reveal that crocodile-based products such as Himalaya Birkin handbag, typically can sell for up to 2.4 million baht (Rs 55,75,182). On the other hand, a crocodile leather suit can sell for around 200,000 baht (Rs 4,64,624).