A reptile farmer was devoured alive by 40 crocodiles after falling into their enclosure in Cambodia, it was reported on Saturday, May 27. The 72-year-old man named Luan Nam was dragged into the pit in Siem Reap, according to local authorities.
The man fell after one of the reptiles pull a stick he was holding to shoo away a crocodile out of a cage where it laid eggs.
Based on multiple reports, local authorities said the crocodiles, which Nam owns, lunged at him as soon as he fell to the ground, where his body was ripped and torn into pieces.
The incident has been considered as an accident and no foul play was mentioned.
The reptile farmer is believed to be a veteran in his work and is reportedly a president of a local crocodile farm organization.
Crocodile attacks on humans are relatively rare in the wild but occur, even in enclosures.
In previous cases, there have been reports of similar incidents worldwide where a person falls into the pit full of captive crocodiles.
Siem Reap's reptile farm, just like other sites, aims to harvest the eggs, meat, and skin of crocodiles for trade in the Southeast Asian country.
Crocodile Farmer Attack
Local police Chief Mey Savry confirmed 40 crocodiles dismembered Nam's body, including tearing off both his arms and one leg being torn off, Sky News reported.
The reptiles also left a "pool of blood" in the enclosure, according to the report.
The remains of Nam's body, which was full of crocodile bite marks, were transported to his family home in the countryside village of Po Banteay Chey.
Commune Chief May Sameth told the AFP news agency that the reptile farmer's family had urged him for years to halt his work raising reptiles but he continued to do so due to his high position at the local crocodile farmer's association, the Mirror UK reported.
2019 Siem Reap Crocodile Attack
In recent years, a similar crocodile incident occurred in Siem Reap, the country's second-largest city.
In 2019, a two-year-old girl died after being eaten by crocodiles inside a similar reptile farm in an area close to the historic Angkor Wat temple, the BBC reported.
During the incident, the Cambodian toddler also fell into the crocodile enclosure owned by her family.
The pit consists of more than 60 crocodiles and is well-protected due to a fence.
However, a child can fit through it, as it was in the case of the 2019 crocodile attack.
The girl's father noticed his daughter's death after finding a skull in the enclosure.
Local police Lieutenant Och Sophen, chief of the Siem Reap police at that time, used the tragic incident to warn other local families.
For reptile farmers, Lt. Sophen urged to keep children away from the enclosures even if a fence has been built, as cited by Australia's 7 News.
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