Crocodile farms are offering the reptile’s meat as a cheaper alternative to pork, the price of which has now soared to more than 200 baht per kilogramme.

In Nakhon Pathom, a crocodile farmer is selling meat on his Facebook page.

The owner of Hia Sak Farm said crocodile meat is retailing at 105 baht per kg with wholesale prices starting from 70 baht a kilo for at least 30kg.

He said his farm had previously focused mainly on exports. But as a result of Covid-19 he had to focus on the domestic market.

Similarly, at another farm in Nakhon Pathom, local residents and tourists yesterday flocked to buy crocodile meat.

The farm’s owner said he raises about 12,000 crocodiles of various sizes with the biggest measuring upwards of five metres long. He said his farm has been in operation for more than 30 years.

“Since pork is expensive, more people have now turned to eating crocodile meat, which is cheaper and tastier. It’s also low in fat and high in protein,” he said.

He explained that crocodiles are ready for slaughter when about three and a half years old and at a weight of 30-40kg and length of approximately 185cm.

Each crocodile provides about 12kg of meat. He said meat from the upper part of the animal’s tail is the most delicious and popular.