Thailand’s private ownership of lions raises safety concerns

[webfact]

The private ownership of wild animals, notably lions, has come under scrutiny in Thailand following several incidents where these creatures were observed in public areas. The issue has sparked widespread concern among the public regarding safety and animal welfare.

 

The first case surfaced in January when a lion cub was noticed in the backseat of a fancy convertible in Pattaya. Simultaneously, another cub was spotted wandering in a residential area in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. An investigation into the latter incident revealed that two 10-month-old lion cubs were being kept in a home. Days later, two more cubs, aged nine months and two months respectively, were found in distressing conditions in a café on Sukhumvit Soi 4. Another cub was confiscated from a Phuket hotel room on February 14.

 

The authorities, on learning about these incidents, swiftly seized the animals and pressed charges against the owners, which included illegal possession of wild animals, keeping protected wildlife without permission, and moving wild animals without appropriate documentation.

 

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has 67 wild animals on its controlled list under the Preserved and Protected Wildlife Law. Lions are one of the ten deemed dangerous, along with animals like the Bornean orangutan, green anaconda, chimpanzee, Sumatran orangutan, jaguar, cheetah, gorilla, mountain gorilla, and dwarf chimpanzee. Trade of these animals is permitted only by licensed farms.

The law does allow private individuals and zoos to import or possess dangerous animals, but they must adhere to specific rules and regulations. Any individual holding a controlled animal must inform the authorities and secure permission. Permits are granted only after ensuring the holders can provide good living conditions for the animals, by animal welfare norms, and guarantee public safety.

 

Prasert Sornsathapornkul, the director of the Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Division, stated that many wild animal owners lack a proper understanding of the law. He emphasised that while the law permits possession of such animals, it is crucial to maintain a safe habitat that doesn’t jeopardise or disrupt the community.

 

The extent of lion ownership

 

The department’s records show that 223 lions are owned by 37 individuals across the country. The inspection process is expected to conclude by March, which may provide a clearer perspective on dealing with this issue. Prasert also noted that owning lions has become a status symbol among the wealthy due to the animals’ high value, with prices exceeding 100,000 baht (US$2,783), reported Bangkok Post.

However, concerns have been raised about the possibility of wildlife crimes, such as the sale of lion skin, sex organs, and teeth. Edwin Wiek, founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), has urged the department to reject individual ownership of lions. He warned of potential issues in the future where owners, unable to care for the animals, may abandon them with the department, leading to a misuse of taxpayers’ money. He also discovered a pig farm in Chachoengsao province that kept more than ten lions, raising suspicions about their intended trade.

 

In related news, Thai police and wildlife officers launched a manhunt for a lion cub used for tourism in Phuket. Legal proceedings ensued as authorities investigated the cub’s ownership and transportation.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-19

 

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by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

[sirineou]

Wait until we start getting soi lions...

[jacko45k]

Just now, sirineou said:

Wait until we start getting soi lions...

Perhaps they will kill all the soi dogs..... (my silver lining post of the day!)

[sirineou]

Just now, jacko45k said:

Perhaps they will kill all the soi dogs..... (my silver lining post of the day!)

Then we will have to get soi elephants to scare away the soi lions. 

[flyingtlger]

Wild animals domesticated?

 

 

[bamnutsak]

4 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Wait until we start getting soi lions...

 

There is an establishment on Sukhumvit Soi 4, L-Seven which has a lion on the premises, for marketing purposes.

 

https://www.facebook.com/cafestorythailand/posts/1518267558948361/

 

It may have been removed since the anti-Lion brigade got their panties in a bunch (that's a joke).

 

Several children have mysteriously gone missing in the area. 😉

 

 

 

 

[jacko45k]

9 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

Wild animals domesticated?

 

Unavailable in my country.... Thailand. 

[mikebell]

22 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Perhaps they will kill all the soi dogs..... (my silver lining post of the day!)

Support this wholeheartedly.  A plentiful supply of lion fodder in my area.  It should keep the disease-spreading, defecation/urination down amongst the prissy mask-wearing Thai 'owners'.

[ezzra]

Lions are not even a native animal of thailand, there for, unscrupulous people are bringing them in,

and none of the government departments concerning wild animals importation and keeping them as

pets doing anything about it...

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Perhaps they will kill all the soi dogs..... (my silver lining post of the day!)

Could do with a pride in Lopburi... sort out the monkeys.

[brianthainess]

Slight of subject; I worked with a guy in the UK once who was peed off at his neighbors pigeons crapping all over his washing, he wrote to the council to complain, they said the neighbor had a right to own/keep pigeons, so he asked them if he could keep a Hawk. 

Nah denied. true story. 

[The Old Bull]

Lions are wild animals ,they look cute when they are small but when they grow up they can eat you. Why would you want such a creature, like keeping a poisonous snake or a crocodile, stupid ?

[riclag]

Oh dear ! As if Dogs & Monkey’s weren’t enough to worry about

in some communities.

Now lions !

 

[sirineou]

10 hours ago, sirineou said:

Then we will have to get soi elephants to scare away the soi lions. 

When by daughter was very young . I used to tell her the story about getting rid of mice

she loved it , every story time she would ask for the mouse story. I must had said it hundreds of times. 

I will abbreviate

So the man has a mouse problem in his house 

He goes to the village wise man and ask for advice

The wise man tell him he needs to get cats. 

a couple of weeks later he goes back . The wise man asks him if he had luck with the cats,

I did said the man but the cats a destroying my furniture, how do I get rid of then?

Thats easy says the wise man get dogs.

A week later the man comes back to all distressed and and says I got the dogs but now it's worse the house stink . I need to get rid of them.

Easy says the wise man get a lion and the dogs will run away.

A couple of days the man is back, very unhappy. The wise man asks did the lion  take care of your dog problem,

Did he ever , said the man, almost take care me too. How do I get rid of him.

Well the wise man said. the only thing lions are afraid of are elephants. 

Het an elephant and your problem would be over. 

Not a day goes by and the man is back. very angry!! Now I cant even get in my house . I need to get rid of the elephant but the beast won't move.

Oh that simple said the wise man Elephants are terrified of mice. Get yourself a bunch of mice and your problem would be over 

 

 

 

[G Rex]

So let me try to understand this.

 

"safety concerns" with people keeping lions in Thailand. 

Recent reported incidents involving lions attacking people in Thailand - none that I am aware of.

Response : scrutinise , fine , confiscate lions

 

People keeping Pitbull type dog breeds in Thailand - no problem

Numerous injuries and deaths following attacks in the last few years.

Response , generally a rap on the knuckles or furious attempts to rehome the offending dog.

 

No, still don't really understand this....

 

 

[still kicking]

12 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Unavailable in my country.... Thailand. 

And mine Australia.

[jacko45k]

16 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Could do with a pride in Lopburi... sort out the monkeys.

For years they have been having special 'feed the monkeys days', laying out tables of food. Now they recognize the problem, I hated it when there, they pester you and you fear they will grab something off you faster than a soi 15 ladyboy. It's like a Pattaya songkran every day!