Someone raised my hand. Okay, I did it. I thought I had learned better than to volunteer for things.The last time I raised my hand I spent two years in the U.S. Army. This exotic country of SE Asia makes me do things I wouldn't otherwise do.

I'm sitting in the stands of a crocodile show in northern Thailand . The crocs are sunning on a raised concrete area surrounded by a moat.

A trainer enters the crocs area and gives us facts about them. He says the male freshwater crocodile grows to about 12 feet long. It has 4 armor plates on its neck lining and back legs. The large tail help protect it from danger and also aids it in swimming.
 
The crocodile is more closely related to birds and dinosaurs than to most animals classified as reptiles.

The crocodiles jaws can bite down with immense force, by far the strongest bite of any animal. The pressure of the crocodiles bite is 5,000 pounds per square inch. If you want a comparison, think of a rotweiller that's bite is 335 pounds per square inch. A great white sharks bite is 400 pounds per square inch. The alligator has a bite equal to 2,000 pounds per square inch. Ok, you get the idea.

Crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of the water . They feed by grabbing and holding onto their prey. So, they have evolved sharp teeth for tearing and holding onto flesh. 

The jaws are opened, however, by a very weak set of muscles. Crocodiles can thus be controlled for study or transporting by using tape around their jaws. (I know, like myself, you have seen this many times on crocodile shows on T.V.) They have limited side-to-side neck movement, so once the jaws are taped shut they can be handled easier.

Then, he asks if anyone is willing to come into the arena to get up close to one. No one seems to be interested in their offer.

Although it took me two years to get out of my commitment the last time I raised my hand to volunteer, I do it again. I am not wanting to "be" somethings lunch, but I do want to find out what one of these things feel like.

No one else volunteers, so I am the only one to go . They tell the audience these crocs will, and do, eat humans. It sounds to me like I AM THE SHOW! 

They assure me there are skilled trainers nearby at all times, to monitor the crocodiles. 

I sign the forms and take off my shoes. I have to wade through the moat to get to the crocodiles. One of the trainers walks beside me, holding my arm because the bottom of the moat is very slick and hard to walk across.

Once at the raised area where all the crocs are sunning, another trainer gives me his hand and pulls me up.

The plan is like this: I will stand behind the crocodile. I can have my picture taken by the tail and back legs. If the croc turns towards me, I am supposed to go the other way. Okay, that sounds right. The trainer will then grab the tail and pull the croc away. I'm sure this is a foolproof plan. (There are other crocs in the area,though . What about them?)

I touch the tail and it looks so powerful and long. I'm expecting him to start thrashing it around any minute, but he doesn't move it.

I have my picture taken by the tail and sit on the back legs. The legs have a softness to them under the scales.

Then, I place my foot on the crocs back. He only opens his jaws slightly once. I think he is more curious than angry.

The skin on the crocodiles back is tough, like armor. It feels just like it looks. It has thick scales on it's skin, for protection, of course. I am told they absorb the sun through these heavy scales because a lot of blood vessels run though them. 

When I touch the legs and sides of the croc, though, it is smooth skin. There are scales on the legs and sides but of a smoother variety than what is on the back. The lower part of the side feels soft, actually, but with scales . I am told their belly is smooth also. I have no intention of trying to find out for myself.

When they swim, they hold their legs close to their body and swim very fast. They have webbed feet, but not for moving through the water. They are for helping to make fast turns in the water.The webbed feet also help the croc to walk in mud when in shallow water.

I get to touch around the tail and legs and upper sides of the croc. I have a few photos taken and have found out what I need to know.

As I leave the crocs area, the audience applauds. Sure, they wouldn't go in... it's the least they can do! I wonder if they hoped to get a picture of the American being eaten by the crocodile?

Anyway, I got to feel one and they didn't, so there! I am given a key chain by the trainers with a small crocodile foot attached to it.

I am given a towel to dry my legs and feet and return to the stands . People around me want to see the keychain I was given. They ask me a few questions of what it was like.

Once I am through entertaining the crowd, the trainers take over. They do the usual crocodile show things like pulling them around by the tail, closing their mouths with their hands and putting their head in the crocs mouth.

All in all it was a fun show. Of course, getting that close to one is what I will remember. The most dangerous thing to me seemed to be walking through the moat with the slick bottom. Still, I do not want to run into one of these in the wild.

Thailand is still amazing!