If you and team sink in the crocodile-infested pond, the ‘reward’ is 5 million baht (S$194,000).
Hopefully, everyone survives and you get to share the prize. Fingers crossed.
That’s a seemingly morbid monetary reward the owner of Elephant Territory Pattaya has come up with to counter claims that his crocodile-feeding activity for tourists could endanger their lives.
Thai fishery authority suspended his licence to operate the crocodile farm at the once popular attraction in mid-July to allow the tourism authority to inspect its safety measures after alarming photos and a video of snapping crocodiles surrounding a floating raft packed with Chinese tourists went viral on social media.
Weibo, Facebook screengrabs
Many netizens questioned the security features of the semi-caged platform, which looked poorly constructed and flimsy.
The participants dangled rods with meat attached to attract the crocodiles, which numbered up to 4,000 in the pond according to reports.
But the chief executive of Elephant Territory Uthen Youngprapakorn refuted allegations, claiming there had been no unfortunate incidents in the 12 years of the feeding activity for visitors. He also told Thai media said he had replaced the floating raft five times.
Uthen said each raft, which has chest-high metal barriers, can hold up to eight tonnes in weight but he usually limited entry to about 10 to 15 people to ensure safety.
He said the rafts are equipped with outboard motors as well as cables to tow them to safety quickly.
Throwing the challenge to his critics, he said the public could form teams of up to 17 people each to board the platform. The team that successfully sinks the raft in five minutes stands to pocket the 5 million baht in cash.
Upset with the suspension, Uthen claimed that visitor numbers had plunged 80 per cent, causing a six-figure revenue loss, Thailand’s Morning News reported.
Thai authorities are also inspecting other crocodile farms in the Chon Buri province. There were past reports of animal attacks at farms opened to tourists who could enjoy watching them at close range or even pose for pictures while touching them.
In 2013, Uthen’s Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo was in the news when a crocodile closed its jaws with a trainer’s head inside its mouth.
He was fortunate to escape serious injury but the incident shocked many when they saw an online video clip of the incident.
Related: Feeding frenzy excite tourists at crocodile farm
chenj@sph.com.sg
