No-swimming signs were put up on Nai Han beach in Phuket today after a crocodile estimated to be about two metres long was sighted swimming in the sea about 100 metres from the shoreline on Wednesday.
Tambon Rawai mayor Aroon Soros said there are fears that the crocodile, which is believed to have escaped out of a crocodile farm on the island, is still in the sea off Nai Han beach near a rock formation toward Laem Krathing.
Crocodile watch teams have been set up to look out for the reptile whereas tourists were warned not to swim in the area until the crocodile is captured.
Mr Chatuphorn Burutpat, director-general of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said that officials from marine and coastal resources office in Phuket had been ordered to observe the situation on Nai Han beach. He admitted that he didn’t know the species of the crocodile. Earlier last year, a hybrid crocodile named Le Pung was spotted swimming in the sea off Bang Thao beach before it was captured and sent to a private zoo in Phuket.
