Video Report: Krabi Police hunt gibbon tout east of Phuket

PHUKET: Krabi Police are looking to pull gibbon touts out from their hiding places after a video surfaced on Facebook showing a man photographing the protected species with tourists.

“We haven’t received a complaint about gibbons being used this way in the Ao Nang area yet. However, I’ll put together a task force and deal with it immediately,” Col Witaya Maksai of the Krabi Police told the Phuket Gazette today.

In August, police arrested two individuals on the popular party island of Koh Phi Phi for illegally touting gibbons, Col Witaya said.

“We arrested the owners, who were charging tourists to use the gibbons as props for photos. We rescued four gibbons in that raid,” he said.

“Gibbons are protected by law in Thailand, and specific permits are necessary to own them.”

Anyone found to illegally own a gibbon could face the charge of possession of a protected species without a permit. The charge carries a penalty of up to 40,000 baht, up to four years’ imprisonment or both.

— Natthaphol Wittayarungrote