Show the markings on a butchered tiger compared with photographs taken from Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. (Photo courtesy of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department)
There was a news conference on tiger found butchered at Mae Sot checkpoint on Mae Sot – Tak highway which given by Mr. Thanya Netithammakun, Deputy Director General of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department last Friday 13th. The conclusion is, wildlife officers had compared markings on dead tiger stripe with photographs taken from Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK). Found that this tiger is a female which was first photographed in 2012. She was spotted again last year with two cubs about eight months old in HKK. Now rangers are trying to search for two cubs–almost two years old now—concern that they could be a target for hunters.
“At that age, two young tigers can live on their own with occasional assistance from their mother. However, they might have migrated into forests nearby,” said Dr. Saksit Simcharoen, a tiger expert from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. “The fate of two cubs is unknown, however, we assume that without their mother, it has high probability that cubs cannot survive by themselves,” Dr. Saksit added.
Tigers are classified as protected animals which still exist only about 100 individuals in Thailand and only 70-80 tigers live in HKK.
“Two offenders didn’t provide more information except that they had transferring the butchered tiger to the restaurant in Bangkok. However, authorities found the suspicious phone numbers and will further investigate to trace the mastermind and whether it is the illegal movement of animals killed. In addition, the tiger carcass will be properly destroyed after the case is over,” Mr. Thanya said. “In order to prevent this kind of situation in the future, we should strengthened patrolling by increasing patrol effort, inspecting more in the restaurants, along with the cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to improve the surrounding community for better living,” he added.
This arrested case with confiscated butchered tiger on highway is the first case ever in Thailand.
Article:
1. “อัตลักษณ์ชัด! ซากเสือโคร่งถูกชำแหละ จากป่า ‘ห้วยขาแข้ง’ คาดลูกอีก 2” from Green News TV on November 13, 2015
2. “เชื่อฆ่าชำแหละ ‘เสือโคร่ง’ มีผู้บงการ ผู้เชี่ยวชาญคาดลูก 2” from Green News TV on November 14, 2015
Link:
1. http://www.greennewstv.com/อัตลักษณ์ชัด-ซากเสือโคร/
2. http://www.greennewstv.com/เชื่อฆ่าชำแหละ-เสือโคร/
Summarized and translated by: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Thailand Program