Tiger cub sighting triggers arrest of animal farm owner

A tiger cub spotted roaming a community in Bang Pakong district has led to the arrest of an animal farm owner in Chachoengsao for allegedly possessing an endangered animal.

Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, directed the DNP’s Yiew Dong task force and 1362 special task force to investigate the incident further.

The suspect, identified as Yothin (surname withheld), owns an animal farm in Bang Khla district. Task force officers discovered that a tiger cub owned by Yothin had indeed roamed the community, contrary to initial claims that it was a liger cub.

In addition to the tiger cub, officers also found a lion cub aged between two and three months at Yothin’s farm. This lion cub had been brought from another farm in Nakhon Pathom without notifying the authorities.

The investigation was sparked by the capture of a female tiger cub aged between five and six months, which was seen in a residential area in Tambon Bang Wua, Bang Pakong district. The cub was taken to the Bang Pakong police station after being captured.

Yothin initially asserted that the animal was a liger cub painted to resemble a tiger cub for a film shoot. However, yesterday, he admitted that it was, in fact, a tiger cub, reported Bangkok Post.

The owner of the farm in Nakhon Pathom has also been charged with transferring a lion cub without authorisation. The tiger cub has since been transferred to the Bueng Chawak Wildlife Development Centre in Suphan Buri, Atthapol said.

“The suspect has been charged with letting loose a protected wild animal and possessing a protected wild animal and a controlled wild animal.”

“He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 baht (US$ 13,800).

“The owner of the farm in Nakhon Pathom has also been charged with transferring a lion cub without authorisation. The tiger cub has been sent to the Bueng Chawak Wildlife Development Centre in Suphan Buri.”