POLICE in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town yesterday praised the efforts of 11 men they said contributed to the capture of a runaway pet crocodile.

Kong Kuon, police chief in Poipet commune, said that the 20-kilogram reptile had dug its way out of a dirt-floor cage and escaped following heavy rains on Wednesday. It was not caught until Friday.

“The owner kept it in a wooden cage where the crocodile could scratch the ground, and it ran away,” he said.

He said that the owner would not be punished, and that he had been keeping the crocodile as a pet for his children.

“We did not fine the owner. We just told him to be careful if he plans to keep on raising crocodiles,” he said.

But the man, who could not be reached yesterday, has apparently decided to sever ties with the runaway crocodile…read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or the see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.