Crocs loose again in Thailand

Sawasdee! How the heck are you? Nice to see you today! I hope you're not up to your ying-yang in water like many folks are in Thailand. Pour yourself a mugga and grab a virtual treat before the critters eat them all. This is nothing new for Thai people. It happens every time it floods in the Thai kingdom but no one seems to learn from the 'experience'.

More than 30 crocodiles were on the loose after escaping from a flooded farm in Prang Ku district on Sunday.

The crocodiles got out of the Ban Sanai farm in Tambon Pimai late in the morning, Thai Rath daily newspaper reported. Provincial authorities quickly set up a unit to catch them, fearing they could pose a threat to the public. Well, I guess they might, eh!

The team had captured six of the escaped crocodiles by late Sunday afternoon and are trying to catch the rest of them as soon as possible.

Prang Ku is one of eight districts, including the municipality, hit by flooding caused by continuous rain and run-off from Phanom Dong Rak mountain.

Si Sa Ket Governor Pratheep Kiratiraekha said floodwater on Sunday had receded in five of the affected districts except in Muang where the water level continues to rise.

More than 600,000 Thais have been affected by flooding since July and more than a quarter of Thailand's provinces have been inundated, prompting officials to issue landslide warnings and begin evacuation measures on Monday. Lots of photo ops here for politicians to have their picture in the papers with local residents showing their concern over the situation. One hopes that eventually something would get done to prevent future croc 'escapes'. Higher fences? More secure facilities? Stricter laws (enforced) by the respective governments on maintaining facilities holding dangerous animals? Oh...did I mention pythons?  King Cobras?

Devastating floods in 2011 killed more than 800 people and caused massive disruption to industry, cutting economic growth that year to just 0.1 percent.

Four people have been killed in this year's flooding. More rainfall is expected later this week.

"Due to a heavier-than-usual monsoon season, 21 provinces are now experiencing flooding. We have issued a warning about landslides and have told boats in the Gulf of Thailand to be vigilant," Chatchai Promlert, chief of Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, told Reuters.

Thais take it all in stride. If it is going to happen, it will because that's the way things are. 

Have yourself a caffo day. See ya, eh!

Bob