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

[webfact]

 

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 the welfare of the young animal.

 

Leading the investigation was Chinthep Kanghae, the chief of the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang, the office charged with the protection of wildlife in Phuket. He was joined by Deputy Chief Police Lieutenant Boonphob Thinbut of the Phuket City Police, other city police officers, along representatives from the Phuket Tourist Police and Phuket Forestry Office.

 

During their visit to the café, the team encountered a Chinese national, known only as Khai. Claiming to be a friend of the café owner, Khai was brought in for questioning at the Phuket City Police Station regarding the lion cub.

Khai revealed to the officers that the cub was transported from Bangkok to Phuket, housed in Chalong for roughly 15 days, before being brought to the café. It was put on display for two to three hours daily and taken back to Chalong each night by its owner, whose identity remains unknown. Khai also mentioned that the cub’s owner was currently in Krabi but was due to return to Phuket soon, reported The Phuket News.

 

by Mitch Connor

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-14

 

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[flyingtlger]

From all the tiger sighting in Pattaya, the tiger is probably in Pattaya

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

During their visit to the café, the team encountered a Chinese national, known only as Khai. Claiming to be a friend of the café owner,

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Khai revealed to the officers that the cub was transported from Bangkok to Phuket, housed in Chalong for roughly 15 days, before being brought to the café. It was put on display for two to three hours daily and taken back to Chalong each night by its owner, whose identity remains unknown. Khai also mentioned that the cub’s owner was currently in Krabi but was due to return to Phuket soon,

The mystery cafe owner with a Chinese friend and lion cub... 

[thenewgoo]

Is it even legal to have a lion?

[Kinnock]

If the employee is from China, it's a good bet the owner is also from the land of the overturning tour boats.

 

But as owning the business (and the cub) is technically illegal, he's probably off trying to find a Thai fall guy.

[animalmagic]

The 'owner', if Chinese, will be looking at a long term investment. When the lion is old/big enough it will be slaughtered and the bones used in Chinese traditional medicines. 

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, thenewgoo said:

Is it even legal to have a lion?

Yes but you need a license and strict conditions apply. TIT

[LudwigK]

Foolishing the police ....runs good😁😀😀😀🤣🤣🤣😆😆😆

[BenStark]

2 hours ago, Kinnock said:

it's a good bet the owner is also from the land of the overturning tour boats.

 

So you reckon the owner is Thai, since that is the land of overturning boats