Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo

Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo
Crocodile Show
13°34′16″N 100°35′47″E / 13.57111°N 100.59639°E / 13.57111; 100.59639
Date opened	1950 (Original) 2024 (Revamped)
Date closed	2020 (Original)
Location	Thai Ban, Samut Prakan Province, Thailand
Land area	400 rai
No. of animals	Crocodiles: 60,000
No. of species	27
Owner	Youngprapakorn family
Management	Crocodile Farm and Bangpakong Zoo Co., Ltd.
Public transit access	BTS Skytrain: Sai Luat Station, Sukhumvit line) Bus Lines: 102, 142, 508, 511, 535

The Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo (Thai: ฟาร์มจระเข้สมุทรปราการ) was a famous crocodile zoo in Samut Prakarn Province, Thailand that operated from 1950 to its temporary closure in 2020.^[1][2] During is tenure, the zoo operated as one of the largest crocodile zoos in the world, being home to 60,000 crocodiles.^[3] It even claimed to hold the world's largest crocodile in captivity, named Yai, who measured around 6 m (19 ft 8 in) and weighed 1,114 kg (2,456 lb).^[4] The Covid-19 pandemic and the loss of tourists would later cause the zoo's closure in 2020 before going into liquidation in 2021.^[5][2][6]

Aside from just housing crocodiles, the zoo also housed a wide array of other animals, including Asian elephants, tigers, chimpanzees, gibbons, turtles, snakes, birds, camels, hippos, goats, alpacas, deer, fish, bears, leopards, cows, horses, sheep, boars, ostriches, rabbits, orangutans, peafowl, cassowaries, emus, porcupines and pythons.^[7] The area also had an exhibit showcasing models and skeletons of dinosaurs, and also a slide multivision of primitive men and animals.^[1] There were daily crocodile shows, famous for the performers who did tricks such as when they put their heads and arms inside a crocodile's mouth. Elephant shows displayed the dexterity of elephants as they walked tightropes, rode skateboards and danced. Visitors could also have taken a short elephant ride, train, or paddle boat ride.