Parts of Khao Yai park closed

Two teams of forest rangers have been dispatched in both closed areas to look out for the two reptiles, which are identical and thought to be of a freshwa¬ter species, and hunt them down, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said yesterday.

Directorgeneral Kasemsant Jinnawaso said it would be decided whether further watchout would be needed, in case both reptiles, once they were caught, were of different sexs, and could have probably reproduced offsprings already in the area.

Park director Manote Karnphanakngarn said ten warning signs had been erected and four rangers stationed in the both areas to warn tourists abou the crocodiles. There are two crocodiles sighted in the park since 2007 with no reported attacks on humans.

Wellknown government veterinarian Parnthep Rattanakorn said he was convinced that the two crocodiles found in the park were pets let loose accidentally or on purpose, as it was impossible in an animal migration theory that freshwater crocodiles could live in a habitat like the Khao Yai national park.

He expressed worry that the existence of freshwater crocodiles could have generated an ecological impact to the park, in addition to a possibilty that they had already produced offsprings, or could attack humans while not yet caught.