Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo — Attraction in Bang Pu Subdistrict Municipality

🐊 The Crocodile Farm Experience – Wild, Wacky, and Weirdly Wonderful 🐘

If you're looking for a luxury zoo experience... keep scrolling 😅 But if you're down for an old-school, slightly chaotic, full-of-character animal adventure – WELCOME to the Crocodile Farm! 🎉

We took our kids and honestly? They had a BLAST. From goats trying to eat our shirts to crocodiles chilling like they own the place, this farm is like stepping into another dimension where time kinda stopped... around 1997.

🎟️ Tickets are just 80 baht. Yup, cheaper than a bubble tea. But fair warning: once you’re inside, you might spend 1,000 baht on animal snacks alone. Because every 5 steps, your kid will say, "Can I feed this one toooo?"

Highlights:

Crocodile show: Terrifying. Jaw-dropping. Why is that guy putting his head in there?!

Capybara zone: Adorable. Would pet again. Deserves more space and maybe a little fan.

Elephant show: A bit hard to watch. Those big gentle giants look tired. We’d love to see them just roam freely and wave with their trunks instead of standing on tiny stools 😢

Some real talk:

The place is hot (Thailand-style hot 🔥). Bring a hat, or become a human toast.

Some enclosures smell… uh… “authentic.” Not great, but understandable. It's clear they’re running on a tight budget.

Staff arrive... when they arrive. Gates open at 8-ish, but some zones don’t come alive until 10am. We stood in front of the capybara gate like, “hello? anybody home?”

The animals seem to be doing their best, but the zoo clearly needs more hands and funds. Honestly, that’s why we’re writing this. It’s not perfect – far from it – but it has charm. The kind of place where you laugh, sweat, get weird animal selfies, and make unforgettable family memories.

💡 Pro tip: Bring cash. There’s no QR code payment inside. We learned the hard way and had to sprint to the ATM like contestants on The Amazing Race.

Would we go again? Oh yes. Would we bring more friends next...

The Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo, located about 30 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, is a remarkable destination that offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. As one of the world’s largest crocodile farms, it boasts an impressive array of crocodile species, including the enormous Siamese crocodiles. The farm's centerpiece is undoubtedly the exhilarating crocodile shows, where experienced trainers demonstrate their remarkable skills and interact closely with these formidable reptiles. These shows are both thrilling and educational, providing insights into crocodile behavior and conservation efforts.

Beyond crocodiles, the zoo features a diverse collection of wildlife. Visitors can see majestic tigers, playful elephants, colorful birds, and other fascinating animals. The zoo’s well-maintained enclosures offer a comfortable environment for the animals and enhance the viewing experience for visitors. The farm also includes informative exhibits on crocodile biology and conservation, promoting awareness about the importance of preserving these ancient creatures.

The facilities at Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo are designed to accommodate large numbers of visitors, with various amenities such as food stalls, restaurants, and souvenir shops. The staff members are knowledgeable and friendly, always ready to assist and provide information. However, it is important to note that the farm can become quite crowded, especially during peak tourist seasons and weekends. To make the most of your visit, arriving early is recommended.

In summary, the Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo is a compelling and educational attraction that provides a unique opportunity to learn about and observe some of the most intriguing animals on the planet. Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a fun family outing, this destination is well...

Do not, do not come here.

I'll leave the concerns about animal abuse and ill-treatment in this farm to the other reviewers (who have canvassed this issue at length) and instead focus on the glaring safety issues with this farm. We went to look at some of the cages housing the infant/juvenile crocodiles near the entrance and were appalled to find that some of the cages were not even padlocked. Moreover, these were pull-to-open doors, meaning that by simply bashing the inside of the door with a moderate amount of force, the crocodiles could easily have pushed them open and escaped. Venturing further into the farm, we also noted that some of the other animal pens (e.g. the cattle pens) had gaping holes in them which had not been patched.

Overall this farm seemed to be in a state of terrible disrepair with many of its sections having been abandoned. This can presumably be attributed to the (deservedly) low footfall in this place.

The only meagre silver lining that there was to be had about this otherwise very much grey cloud was that the empty and somewhat dilapidated concrete and metal structures around the abandoned parts gave these areas a unique Chernobyl-esque brutalist/abandoned vibe (which can be seen in the photos below). On the whole, however, I would strongly discourage any visitors to Bangkok from patronising and giving their money to an establishment as flawed as this.

EDIT: The owner has left a reply containing a sob story about the difficulties they are facing. Putting aside legitimate issues of low footfall and cashflow issues, failing to do something as simple as padlock the crocodile cages shut is universally inexcusable regardless of the circumstances which one's business is in. Also, every one of my photos is recent and correct as of...