Tiger Rescued After Three-Day Operation by Park Officials and Vets

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

 

A three-day rescue mission to save an injured female tiger from a snare in Huai Kha Khaeng forest has been successfully completed. The operation, led by park officials and veterinary experts, highlights the dangers of wildlife poaching and the ongoing challenges of conservation efforts.

 

Chutidet Kamonchanut, Director of Protected Area Regional Office 3 (Ban Pong), revealed details of the mission, which focused on the tiger trapped in the Pu Toei Forest Reserve.

 

The operation began after local rangers discovered signs of the tiger, including its tracks and hearing growls, on 8 January. A multidisciplinary team was deployed, including staff from Pu Toei National Park, veterinarians from the regional office, and personnel from wildlife rescue centres in Khao Prathap Chang and Bueng Chawak.

 

By 18:30 that evening, search efforts involving drones and ground teams located the tiger resting in a dense grass-covered ravine. The animal, estimated to be a seven-year-old female, was injured on its front right paw, ensnared by a steel wire trap.

 

Veterinary teams sedated the tiger using tranquiliser darts before cutting away the wire, cleaning the wound, and administering antibiotics, fluids, and vitamins. The tiger was then transported to the Pu Toei National Park headquarters for further care.

 

After recovering from sedation and showing signs of stability, the tiger was transferred to the Bueng Chawak Wildlife Rescue Centre for specialised treatment later that night. Throughout the journey, two veterinarians closely monitored its condition to ensure its safety.

 

Chutidet noted that the tiger’s presence outside Huai Kha Khaeng demonstrates the ecological connectivity of Western Thailand’s forest corridors. However, he emphasised the threats posed by illegal snares, which remain a critical issue in wildlife conservation. He pledged ongoing monitoring and expert care to rehabilitate the tiger so it can eventually be released back into the wild.

 

The rescue serves as both a testament to the dedication of Thailand’s conservation teams and a stark reminder of the dangers faced by its endangered wildlife.

 

-- 2025-01-11

 

 

[Briggsy]

Great work by the team from the National Park team.

 

Sadly poaching is endemic in that area and a tiger would fetch a lot of money once sold to the Chinese probably for Chinese "medicine".

 

This clearly happened in the Western Forest Complex (Uthai Thani, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi).

 

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

[Thingamabob]

Very well done by all involved in this rescue. Just a shame the scumbag snare setters will carry on their disgusting trade unchecked.

[billd766]

Perhaps if the snare poachers were ever caught, they should be put in their own snares and left in the area where tigers roam.

 

A sort of poetic justice.

[WDSmart]

I hope they find the one who set the snare and put them in jail! 

[newbee2022]

10 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

 

A three-day rescue mission to save an injured female tiger from a snare in Huai Kha Khaeng forest has been successfully completed. The operation, led by park officials and veterinary experts, highlights the dangers of wildlife poaching and the ongoing challenges of conservation efforts.

 

Chutidet Kamonchanut, Director of Protected Area Regional Office 3 (Ban Pong), revealed details of the mission, which focused on the tiger trapped in the Pu Toei Forest Reserve.

 

The operation began after local rangers discovered signs of the tiger, including its tracks and hearing growls, on 8 January. A multidisciplinary team was deployed, including staff from Pu Toei National Park, veterinarians from the regional office, and personnel from wildlife rescue centres in Khao Prathap Chang and Bueng Chawak.

 

 

By 18:30 that evening, search efforts involving drones and ground teams located the tiger resting in a dense grass-covered ravine. The animal, estimated to be a seven-year-old female, was injured on its front right paw, ensnared by a steel wire trap.

 

Veterinary teams sedated the tiger using tranquiliser darts before cutting away the wire, cleaning the wound, and administering antibiotics, fluids, and vitamins. The tiger was then transported to the Pu Toei National Park headquarters for further care.

 

After recovering from sedation and showing signs of stability, the tiger was transferred to the Bueng Chawak Wildlife Rescue Centre for specialised treatment later that night. Throughout the journey, two veterinarians closely monitored its condition to ensure its safety.

 

Chutidet noted that the tiger’s presence outside Huai Kha Khaeng demonstrates the ecological connectivity of Western Thailand’s forest corridors. However, he emphasised the threats posed by illegal snares, which remain a critical issue in wildlife conservation. He pledged ongoing monitoring and expert care to rehabilitate the tiger so it can eventually be released back into the wild.

 

The rescue serves as both a testament to the dedication of Thailand’s conservation teams and a stark reminder of the dangers faced by its endangered wildlife.

 

-- 2025-01-11

 

 

Thank you for "humanity's🙏