Search Results for: wildlife

  • Bangkok News27 animals seized, 2 arrested in Bangkok airport wildlife sting

    27 animals seized, 2 arrested in Bangkok airport wildlife sting

    Thai police dealt a major blow to wildlife traffickers after intercepting 27 exotic animals hidden in luggage on two separate flights at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. The first haul included 20 blue iguanas and two sulcata tortoises found in the luggage of an Indian passenger preparing to board flight TG325…

  • Bangkok NewsWildlife sting: Baby orangutans rescued in Bangkok trafficking bust

    Wildlife sting: Baby orangutans rescued in Bangkok trafficking bust

    Thai police swooped in to rescue two baby orangutans from being sold on the black market—just moments before they were due to be handed over to a buyer in Bangkok. The dramatic bust took place at a petrol station on Prasert Manukit Road in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district yesterday, May 15, after a tip-off from international wildlife agencies. Officers arrested…

  • Phuket NewsOfficials probe illegal land grabs in Phuket wildlife zone

    Officials probe illegal land grabs in Phuket wildlife zone

    Phuket’s lush green hills are fast becoming battlegrounds in a land war fuelled by booming tourism, high-end development, and shady deals — and now, investigators are closing in. Officials launched a fresh investigation into suspected illegal land grabs within a protected wildlife reserve in Wichit, Phuket, raising alarm over how the island’s natural beauty is being sacrificed for profit. “Phuket’s…

  • Crime NewsPoacher arrested near Bhumibol Dam for illegal wildlife hunting

    Poacher arrested near Bhumibol Dam for illegal wildlife hunting

    A task force comprising park rangers and military personnel apprehended a poacher suspected of using forest fires to drive wildlife into water before hunting them. The arrest took place near Bhumibol Dam, in Mae Ping National Park, Tak province. On Tuesday, April 8, district chief Chaiwat Pradaphet and Prayut Waiwong, director of the 14th Conservation Area Office, conducted an investigation…

  • Thailand NewsCat’s out the bag! Cops claw back wildlife in Bangkok airport bust

    Cat’s out the bag! Cops claw back wildlife in Bangkok airport bust

    In a purrfectly executed operation at Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok, Thai police proudly announced a successful swoop on a hair-raising attempt to smuggle exotic wildlife out of Thailand. The operation on Sunday, March 2, led to the apprehension of a 44 year old Indian woman, who was trying to wing it by sneaking protected animals aboard AirAsia flight FD 137 bound…

  • Thailand News3 poachers caught with wildlife carcasses in Kanchanaburi

    3 poachers caught with wildlife carcasses in Kanchanaburi

    Three Karen poachers were apprehended in the Thong Pha Phum National Park in Kanchanaburi province following a tip-off from a concerned citizen. The suspects were caught with homemade firearms and numerous wildlife carcasses. Yutthaphong Damsrisuk, the head of Thong Pha Phum National Park, reported that Chalermchai Sri-on, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, along with senior officials, have implemented…

  • Thailand NewsWildlife trafficking: Birds and red pandas seized in Thailand

    Wildlife trafficking: Birds and red pandas seized in Thailand

    The National Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) searched a property in Nakhon Pathom where rare birds were being kept, after seizing two red pandas valued at millions of baht in Nonthaburi. Deputy commander Police Colonel Arun Wachirasrisukanya announced yesterday that police obtained a court warrant to search the premises in Thap Luang subdistrict, Mueang district. This investigation followed the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand plans elephant contraception to curb human-wildlife conflict

    Thailand plans elephant contraception to curb human-wildlife conflict

    Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has announced a plan to use contraceptive injections on wild elephants to manage their population and reduce human-elephant conflicts. Chalermchai Sri-on, the minister, has directed the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP), along with other relevant agencies, to implement this strategy as part of the ministry’s efforts to control the wild…

  • Thailand NewsThailand celebrates National Wildlife Protection Day

    Thailand celebrates National Wildlife Protection Day

    Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) celebrated National Wildlife Protection Day yesterday with the theme World – Wild – Life Balance: Sustainable Ecosystems for People, Wildlife, and Forests. The event included the official opening of the National Park Tourism Year 2025, aiming to enhance Thailand’s beaches to international standards. The ceremony took place at the Government…

  • Crime NewsIllegal wildlife trade uncovered in Ratchaburi luxury home raid

    Illegal wildlife trade uncovered in Ratchaburi luxury home raid

    A luxury riverside home in Ratchaburi, Thailand, became the focal point of a major investigation when police discovered over 50 rare South American wildlife species illegally housed on the property. The operation, conducted by police and wildlife officials, exposed a shocking black market trade facilitated through social media platforms. Yesterday, December 12, a team led by Arun Wachirasrisukanya, Deputy Commander-in-Chief…

  • Thailand NewsThai nationals arrested for smuggling wildlife from Indonesia

    Thai nationals arrested for smuggling wildlife from Indonesia

    Thai police apprehended two men yesterday for smuggling wildlife from Indonesia into Thailand. The Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED), working with various agencies, detained the two suspects in Lam Thap district, Krabi. The suspects, 28 year old Thosaphon and 30 year old Somporn were found with 10 yellow tortoises, 11 Moluccan cockatoos, and other wildlife species. A…

  • Thailand News2 Chinese men croc-ed in northern Thailand for wildlife trafficking

    2 Chinese men croc-ed in northern Thailand for wildlife trafficking

    Officers at Mae Sot Customs in the northern province of Tak arrested two Chinese men for wildlife trafficking on Monday. Mae Sot Customs officers told Channel 7 that they stopped a suspicious pickup truck at the Huay Kralok community in the Mae Sot district of Tak at about 2pm on Sunday, July 28. The driver was a Chinese man named…

  • Thailand NewsWildlife tragedy: Thailand mourns as serow and tiger bite the dust

    Wildlife tragedy: Thailand mourns as serow and tiger bite the dust

    A serow was discovered shot dead in Phetchabun province, while an injured tiger succumbed to its wounds in Buriram, according to reports from Thai officials yesterday. Chanyaphak Thanachatakkarakun, the chief of Phupha Daeng Wildlife Sanctuary, revealed yesterday, July 21, that a worker from the Silarat Lom Sak stone crushing plant heard gunshots emanating from a mountaintop and subsequently witnessed a…

  • Thailand NewsWildlife crackdown: Claws out for illegal tiger biz in Thailand

    Wildlife crackdown: Claws out for illegal tiger biz in Thailand

    Following the arrest of illegal tiger cubs and ivory traffickers, the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ordered a thorough inspection of all tiger farms, with strict actions promised against any illegal activities. This move, yesterday, July 15, is part of the intensifying efforts to clamp down on illegal wildlife trade in Thailand. The Director-General,…

  • Thailand NewsThai couple arrested for illegal wildlife trade in Surin province

    Thai couple arrested for illegal wildlife trade in Surin province

    Police arrested a Thai couple involved in the illegal wildlife trade, confiscating two tiger cubs, two pairs of Thai elephant tusks, and 26 pieces of African elephant tusks worth millions of baht. Efforts are underway to rescue an additional four tiger cubs. The operation, led by Director of the National Parks Office Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn and officers from Dom Police Station…

  • Thailand NewsWoman arrested for illegal online wildlife trade in southern Thailand

    Woman arrested for illegal online wildlife trade in southern Thailand

    Police apprehended a Thai woman involved in illegal online wildlife trading, seizing 34 rare birds. The suspect admitted to buying the birds from locals and reselling them online for profit. Arune Wachirasrisukanya, Deputy Commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NED), along with Wanpichit Watthanasakmonta, Chief of Police Station 6, and Somphop Trongtokit, Inspector of Police Station 6,…

  • Environment NewsChiang Dao wildlife sanctuary closed due to man-made hotspots

    Chiang Dao wildlife sanctuary closed due to man-made hotspots

    The Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in Chiang Mai province has been indefinitely shut down by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation. The decision comes in the wake of the discovery of several man-made hotspots in areas of key ecological importance. The department’s chief, Attapol Charoenchansa, announced the measure as an immediate response to the pressing issues of…

  • Thailand NewsThai monks implicated in illicit wildlife sanctuary encroachment

    Thai monks implicated in illicit wildlife sanctuary encroachment

    Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary officers yesterday unveiled a case of alleged illicit encroachment involving monks from a highly revered temple in Chaiyaphum. The monks and their accomplices are suspected of violating the sanctity of the wildlife sanctuary’s protected grounds. The Suomi NPP satellite pinpointed 14 hotspots in a forest located in Nong Bua Daeng, Chaiyaphum on Tuesday. Responding swiftly, the…

  • Thailand NewsWildlife trafficker nabbed with protected macaques in Narathiwat

    Wildlife trafficker nabbed with protected macaques in Narathiwat

    The Thai authorities recently apprehended a wildlife trafficker in a sting operation today, seizing two protected macaque monkeys confined in fertiliser bags. The suspect, 32 year old Haisu Salaere, was caught red-handed in Narathiwat province while attempting to sell the animals, which he admitted to capturing and training for obedience and tasks. Narathiwat police, in collaboration with the Provincial Police…

  • Thailand NewsMae Hong Son village assistant assaults wildlife officer

    Mae Hong Son village assistant assaults wildlife officer

    Authorities in Mae Hong Son launched a severe disciplinary investigation against a village assistant for leading a group of 20 locals in a brazen attempt to free two suspects from wildlife officers. The incident, coupled with the seizure of firearms, methamphetamine, and animal remains, sparked a potential dismissal from the position of the village assistant involved. A bold confrontation erupted…

  • Thailand NewsMan nabbed for illegal otter trade in wildlife bust in Chachoengsao

    Man nabbed for illegal otter trade in wildlife bust in Chachoengsao

    Authorities in Chachoengsao province apprehended a 26 year old suspect for harbouring protected wildlife, including otters, in his possession. During the raid in Plaeng Yao district, law enforcement officers seized not only the carcasses of three soft-shelled turtles but also those of two pangolins from the suspect’s residence. The identity of the individual, however, remains undisclosed. The suspect is set…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMekong basin developmental projects threaten livelihoods, wildlife

    Mekong basin developmental projects threaten livelihoods, wildlife

    An expert in sustainable growth and fair use of natural resources has warned that lives and livelihoods along the Mekong Basin could be in jeopardy as a result of developmental projects. The 14,000-rai Wiang Nong Lom in northern Thailand, a shared resource and home to a multitude of freshwater species, has long been a haven for local wildlife. Now, however,…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket café’s lion cub sparks police and wildlife officers manhunt

    Phuket café’s lion cub sparks police and wildlife officers manhunt

    A lion cub, used as a tourist attraction at a café in Phuket, set off a manhunt by Thai police and wildlife officers. The cub was made available to the public for photographs at The Glass House Café and Space, located north of Phuket Town. This unusual situation ignited a wave of online controversy, primarily from individuals deeply concerned about…

  • Thailand NewsControversy over new water tunnel network plan in Kanchanaburi’s wildlife sanctuary

    Controversy over new water tunnel network plan in Kanchanaburi’s wildlife sanctuary

    The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) have come under scrutiny for their plan to build a new water tunnel network in the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi. The project, designed to combat summer droughts, has sparked concerns among local conservationists due to its potential impact on the local ecosystem. The RID justifies…

  • Thailand NewsTiny feline duo rescued: Leopard kittens find new home in wildlife sanctuary

    Tiny feline duo rescued: Leopard kittens find new home in wildlife sanctuary

    In a heartwarming rescue mission, two pint-sized leopard cats, abandoned in a sugarcane plot in Phichit‘s Sam Ngam district, have been saved by officials from Protected Areas Regional Office 12, Nakhon Sawan. The fluffy feline siblings, just a month old, were discovered by wildlife guardians, unharmed and thriving on their specially crafted milk diet. Playful and already bonding with their…

  • Thailand NewsLeatherback sea turtle death sparks concern among Thai wildlife officials

    Leatherback sea turtle death sparks concern among Thai wildlife officials

    The untimely demise of a leatherback sea turtle on a beach in Phang Nga this week triggered a wave of concern among wildlife officials and conservationists. The cause of death was an unfortunate entanglement in a fishing net, which was discovered when the turtle’s carcass washed ashore. Athapol Charoenshunsa, stationed at the helm of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife…

  • Thailand NewsThailand tightens border control to curb illegal wildlife smuggling

    Thailand tightens border control to curb illegal wildlife smuggling

    A concerted effort to tighten borders and stifle illegal wildlife trafficking is underway in Thailand, led by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The department is collaborating with multiple state agencies responsible for border control to clamp down on wildlife smuggling gangs. This action is part of the country’s observance of National Wildlife Protection Day. Narongrit Sookprakan,…

  • Thailand NewsSteve Galster roars: Let’s trade wildlife for a pandemic-free world

    Steve Galster roars: Let’s trade wildlife for a pandemic-free world

    Steve Galster, the founder and CEO of the anti-trafficking organisation Freeland, has advocated for the complete eradication of illegal and legal wildlife trade to avert the possibility of the next pandemic. He highlighted that Thailand, with its superior infrastructure, has been a longstanding hub for such activities, facilitating the movement of wildlife trade from source countries like Africa and Indonesia…

  • Thailand NewsPrison escapee on the prowl: Inmate’s great Thailand wildlife sanctuary location unveiled

    Prison escapee on the prowl: Inmate’s great Thailand wildlife sanctuary location unveiled

    The hunt for a 37 year old inmate who escaped from Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital led police to the Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary. This vast wildlife refuge, spanning 1266 square kilometres across Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, and Songkhla, is believed to be the hideout of Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng. This discovery prompted a shift in law enforcement’s…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya elephant Nam Chok retires to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand sanctuary

    Pattaya elephant Nam Chok retires to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand sanctuary

    In a momentous event, Nam Chok, an elderly elephant who has given rides to tourists in Pattaya for decades, has been granted retirement. In her sixties, she was released by her owner into the care of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), a sanctuary that offers a refuge for elephants. Nam Chok, who is partially sighted, is suspected to have…