A FRENCH tourist was bitten by a massive crocodile while reportedly trying to take a selfie with it in Thailand's popular Khao Yai National Park.

The woman, named as Muriel Benetulier, who is in her 40s, apparently wanted to have her picture taken with the croc but was injured when the reptile snapped at her when she got too close.

3 French national Muriel Benetulier is tended to by Thai medics and Park Rangers in Thailand after she was bitten by a crocodile Credit: Getty Images

She suffered a severe bite wound to her leg after squatting next to the animal to pose for a picture, a park official told the Bangkok Post.

The attack happened yesterday at Khao Yai - off the nature study trail in the Haew Suwat waterfall area - three hours north of Bangkok.

Pictures shows park rangers dressed in camouflage carrying the victim strapped to a stretcher with a thick bandage wrapped around her knee.

3 Benetulier was bitten by a crocodile inside the Thai national park as she tried to get close to the fearsome animal to take a selfie, reportedly Credit: Getty Images

3 She was rushed to hospital after being bitten on the leg Credit: Getty Images

Another snap showed a ranger pointing to a pool of blood close to a sign saying in Thai and English "Danger Crocodile No Swimming".

According to the Bangkok Post, signs warned visitors about the crocodiles and tourists were told to keep to the nature trail.

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An official said two crocodiles had made their home on that particular section of the park for years with warning signs laid out.

"She wanted to take selfie with the crocodile who was lying down near a stream," the park official, who wanted to remain anonymous, told AFP. "It was startled and bit her on her on the leg."

The victim was rushed hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.

Siamese crocodiles were once ubiquitous across South East Asia but their populations have been decimated in the last century by hunting and habitat loss.

They are currently listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list.

In Thailand, there are just a handful of wild populations left in central and western national parks.

Most tourists will only see them in crocodile parks, many of which have been criticised by animal rights groups for controversial feeding practices

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