Farmer killed as 40 of his own crocodiles 'pounce' when he falls into enclosure

27 May 2023 , 10:03

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Luan Nam was killed by 40 crocodiles (Image: ViralPress)

A 72-year-old reptile farmer has been killed by 40 of his own crocodiles when he fell into their enclosure, police have said.

Luan Nam was reportedly trying to move a crocodile out of a cage where the reptile had laid eggs when the animal "attacked the stick" he was using as a goad, causing him to fall into the enclosure in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Local police chief Mey Savry said 40 crocodiles ripped the man's body to shreds, with a pool of blood left in the enclosure.

He explained: "While he was chasing a crocodile out of an egg-laying cage, the crocodile attacked the stick, causing him to fall into the enclosure.

"Then other crocodiles pounced, attacking him until he was dead."

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A crocodile carries a flip-flop in its mouth (ViralPress)

The man was dragged into the pit in Siem Reap, Cambodia (ViralPress)

A chilling pictured taken after the tragic incident shows a crocodile with the man's flip-flop in its mouth.

Mr Savry said the farmer's body was full of bite marks - and he reportedly lost both arms and a leg, that the crocs had swallowed.

Mr Nam's body was later transported to the family home in the countryside village of Po Banteay Chey.

A crocodile grabbed the stick Mr Nam was using and dragged him into the enclosure (ViralPress)

Commune chief May Sameth told AFP that Mr Nam's family had urged him for years to stop raising the reptiles but he had continued doing so as he was the president of the local crocodile farmers' association.

According to reports, the victim's family may now sell the crocodiles.

A similar incident involving crocodiles saw a two-year-old girl be killed and eaten by the reptiles in 2019 while walking around her family's farm.

Local authorities said Rom Roath Neary left the house alone to play around the farm but fell into a crocodile pit and she was not seen alive again.

Mr Nam was full of bite marks, police said (ViralPress)

The man's family had urged him to stop farming crocodiles, according to reports (ViralPress)

Police said the girl's dad only found her skull in the enclosure, which had a fence with gaps small enough for children to go through.

Captain Chamnan, Siem Reap's deputy police chief, said: "Her father found only her skull in the crocodile enclosure, where she was killed by crocodiles."

There are a number of crocodile farms around Siem Reap, which is the second-largest city in Cambodia and a major tourist hotspot as it is located next to the temple complex of Angkor Wat.

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Crocodiles are mainly farmed for their eggs, skin and meat as well as for trade.

Chiara Fiorillo