Lion Cub Found at Café in Rassada, Seized by Authorities

[webfact]

 

Rassada – An unlicensed lion cub found at a café in Rassada belongs to a Chinese national, say Thai police.

The Phuket City Police Chief Colonel Pratueng Phonmana told the Phuket Express on Wednesday (February 14th) that photos of a lion cub at a café in Rassada have gone viral on social media this week. Police inspected the café on the Rassada Nusorn Road but the lion cub was not initially found.

 

The owner of the café was identified only as Ms. Cherngmin, 31, a Chinese national. She told police that she is the owner of the lion cub which she bought from a company in Bangkok for 250,000 baht and which she occasionally brought to the cafe for customers to see. She took police to her room at a hotel nearby where the lion cub was found.

 

She was unable to present the lion’s legal license and there were also disputes over required microchip paperwork. She was taken to the Phuket City Police Station to face charges of not reporting wildlife possession to relevant officers. The lion cub was seized and will be safely taken to a wildlife preservation area while the proper ownership and paperwork is dealt with legally.

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2024-02-15

 

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[Pique Dard]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

The owner of the café was identified only as Ms. Cherngmin, 31, a Chinese national.

...Ms. Chermin, at 31 yo, you should know a lion isn't a pet

[bokningar]

Keep up the good work.

Confiscate all illegal kept animals, the one used in the tourist industry as well.

[worgeordie]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

She took police to her room at a hotel nearby where the lion cub was found.

Is that where she is going to keep it when it grows up ? doubt she has really

thought it through ,nice and cuddly when little , a killer when its fully grown .

 

regards worgeordie

[steven100]

oh '    I think I'll buy a cute lion cub for a pet ....  

[animalmagic]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

oh '    I think I'll buy a cute lion cub for a pet ....  

and when it grows up, I can harvest the parts for traditional chinese medicine!

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

She was unable to present the lion’s legal license and there were also disputes over required microchip paperwork. She was taken to the Phuket City Police Station to face charges of not reporting wildlife possession to relevant officers. The lion cub was seized and will be safely taken to a wildlife preservation area while the proper ownership and paperwork is dealt with legally.

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

She told police that she is the owner of the lion cub which she bought from a company in Bangkok for 250,000 baht

So that said company will be closed down?

[Photoguy21]

5 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Is that where she is going to keep it when it grows up ? doubt she has really

thought it through ,nice and cuddly when little , a killer when its fully grown .

 

regards worgeordie

Agreed and how will she feed it? Lions have a big, and I mean big, appetite.

[PETERTHEEATER]

13 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

 

So that said company will be closed down?

From what we read following the Phuket lion in the Bentley incident, it is not illegal to buy and own domestically bred lions but the owner has to apply for a license and obtain permission to move the animal from its registered address. Seems she broke the law on two counts.

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Agreed and how will she feed it? Lions have a big, and I mean big, appetite.

Let's just understand she doesn't have a problem with Soi dogs in her area.....

[Photoguy21]

2 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Let's just understand she doesn't have a problem with Soi dogs in her area.....

True. Maybe the lion wouldnt have a problem with her either.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

a company in Bangkok

Maybe one in this listing?

"Best Exotic Animals Stores Bangkok Near Me"

https://www.forbangkoklovers.com/en/best/exotic-animals-stores-bangkok

 

[FritsSikkink]

"While the proper ownership and paperwork is dealt with legally"

She already showed she has half a brain by taking it to a cafe and hotel, shouldn't be allowed to own one in any case.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

From what we read following the Phuket lion in the Bentley incident, it is not illegal to buy and own domestically bred lions but the owner has to apply for a license and obtain permission to move the animal from its registered address. Seems she broke the law on two counts.

And the company sold the lion to someone with no documents or license?

[Korat Kiwi]

A  Chinese national who owns/runs a cafe.... check her work visa! 

 

[London Lowf]

2 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

A  Chinese national who owns/runs a cafe.... check her work visa! 

 

 

Where does it say that she runs the cafe?

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, London Lowf said:

 

Where does it say that she runs the cafe?

 

From the OP:

 

The owner of the café was identified only as Ms. Cherngmin, 31, a Chinese national. She told police that she is the owner of the lion cub which she bought from a company in Bangkok for 250,000 baht and which she occasionally brought to the cafe for customers to see

[London Lowf]

20 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

From the OP:

 

The owner of the café was identified only as Ms. Cherngmin, 31, a Chinese national. She told police that she is the owner of the lion cub which she bought from a company in Bangkok for 250,000 baht and which she occasionally brought to the cafe for customers to see

 

So, where does it say that she runs the cafe?

 

There are plenty of people all over the world that own businesses but take no part in the day-to-day operations - this could well be one of those cases.