Forget snarling attack dogs. A family in Thailand uses two guard crocodiles to ward off intruders. And it's been working for years.
Homeowner Awirut Nathip acquired the two toothy reptiles years ago to watch over his house and family, according to Sky News.
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Thong, a 15-year-old croc, was originally purchased as a family pet, but now the vicious creature is an effective protector. His partner, Nguyen, prowls the area with him. The two ensure the family's security better than any security system could.
"We're not worried at all," Nathip told Sky News. "No one would dare to get in."
When Nathip goes upstairs, Thong lies across the front door, while the other, Nguyen, considerably more aggressive, has been relegated to a ditch under the house.
Thong usually stays in the yard and sometimes sleeps on the front porch while Nguyen remains tucked away, only to come out of his hole occasionally.
The family has a collection of valuable antiques, and they say they haven't had a single break-in since they got the pets. This is not surprising considering the Sky News footage of the crocs darting out from hiding places.
But what about the owners' safety? The reptiles' owners say they are more afraid of thieves than they are of their scaly friends.
Neighbors say they are not afraid of the crocs either, and they welcome the unusual security measures, which appears to have contributed to a peaceful neighborhood over the years.
“I’m not frightened of him. I’d rather feel secure because he’ll watch our homes," Prajit Charoensakkhajon, a neighbor, told Sky News.
The two crocodiles have lived outside the house for the past 15 years.
Despite that the Thai family and their neighbors are comfortable with the reptiles,
crocodiles are still extremely dangerous creatures. Approximately 2,500 people die every year from crocodile attacks, whereas sharks kill or maul up to 15 people annually, according to the Russian news source Pravda.
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