Near-Extinct Swamp Cats Seized From Bangkok Home

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

Two swamp cats were seized on Wednesday at a residence in Bangkok. Photo: Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation / Facebook

 

BANGKOK — Two rare wild cats were seized Wednesday from a Bangkok residence.

 

A sting operation led officials to a home in Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 17 on Wednesday afternoon where they seized two swamp cats which were being sold online via Facebook for 40,000 baht each.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/crime-crime/2018/02/22/near-extinct-swamp-cats-seized-bangkok-home/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-02-22

These cats are not classed as threatened, at all.

But why keep them in a cage?

1 hour ago, hansnl said:

These cats are not classed as threatened, at all.

But why keep them in a cage?

Because they would run away ....

They are jungle cats (Felis chaus) and they don't live anywhere near swamps.  They are rarely found in Thailand but more commonly found in Myanmar and Cambodia where they are found in dry open forests.  I doubt they are taken from the wild in Thailand. They may be offspring of locally captively bred animals.  Lots of people involved in breeding wild and domestic cats in Thailand.