A reptile handler was attacked by a crocodile in front of hundreds of people in the middle of a show after he put his arm inside the crocodile’s mouth.
The video footage shows a reptile handler named Tao, 45, performing the stunt at the Phokkathara zoo in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand on Sunday afternoon.
As he put his hand inside the crocodile’s mouth, Tao asked the announcer to stop the music.
Then, the reptile suddenly clamped down around Tao’s forearm before shaking him violently from side to side. The handler can be heard screaming.
As he manages to free himself, we can see blood dripping on the wet tiles.
It was captured on camera by Khun Phusawit, 35, who was visiting the Phokkathara Crocodile Farm and zoo with his wife Nok and their two children. It all happened during a live show.
Khun Phusawit said:
‘The show was very good until that happened. I hope that the man is OK and he gets better soon,’
‘Everybody was shocked when it happened. The kids were a little bit scared.’
‘I’ve watched the clip back many times to see how it happened and the crocodile seems not to like having a hand in his mouth.’
Dong Wittawat, the owner of the crocodile park, informed on Monday that the trainer is fine now.
He said:
‘He was was treated at the farm with bandaging,’
‘He loves crocodiles and he will be working again soon in the next two weeks. It is very rare for this to happen.’