14 Lions, Countless Other Animals Seized During Raid On Bangkok House

[Skywalker69]

Could it be a wrong adress? Hatairat 39 does not exist to my knowledge must be 29.

We used to live in Hathairat 7. Before we moved upcountry.

Did you ever see any lions strolling around?

No I am in Europe right now, go back in one month.

[Greer]

Could it be a wrong adress? Hatairat 39 does not exist to my knowledge must be 29.

We used to live in Hathairat 7. Before we moved upcountry.

...couldn't stand all the roaring and other odd noises in the night?

[webfact]

UPDATE:
Animals, birds seized in Khlong Sam Wa
Khanathit Srihurundaj
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok police yesterday morning cracked down on an alleged wildlife trade source in Bangkok's Khlong Sam Wa district and seized hundreds of wild birds and animals.

They included 14 white lions, (panthera leo), four civets, one leopard cat, two hornbills, and one slow loris, as well as 23 meerkats, 12 peacocks, and 17 marmosets.

The owner of the house on 2 rai (3,200 square metres), Montri Boonphrom-on, 41, claimed the animals were legally imported, mostly from South Africa.

After the investigation into an alleged unauthorised wildlife-trading house, Metropolitan Police Bureau 3 joined with Natural Resources and Environment Ministry officials to search the house in Soi Hathairat 39.

They apprehended caretakers Rungroj Wattanapongsawat, 34, and Usanee Saejiam, 27, and some Myanmar workers and seized the 200-300 animals and birds and some stuffed animals.

Montri later produced import and purchase papers to explain to officials that the animals - most of which he allegedly imported for breeding and selling - underwent legal procedures. He said he had a permit from CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to import them and there were actually 22 lions.

He claimed that six lions were his and the rest were Mitraparp Zoo's. The zoo, which took two lions away, asked him to take care of the 14 remaining lions. He said a lion cost Bt200,000 to buy and import.

Metropolitan Police Bureau 3 deputy chief Pol Colonel Ek Ekkasart said possession of a leopard cat, hornbill, civet or slow loris was illegal and Montri would certainly face legal action.

Police will check Montri's claim of having the proper import papers for other animals, but they all would be seized first pending the probe. Ek also revealed that Montri had been arrested for wildlife trading four years ago and received a one-year suspended jail term.

Officials initially charged Montri and Runroj with having wild animals in their possession without permission, and conspiring to hide and trade wild animals as well as stuffed carcasses.

Some animals were sent to Ratchaburi's wildlife nursing facility and the rest to Chon Buri's Bang Phra Animal Centre.


-- The Nation 2013-06-11

[Sing_Sling]

Thai police discover 14 white lions at Bangkok home

BANGKOK, June 10, 2013 (AFP) -

Thailand has a reputation as a hub of international wildlife smuggling to feed strong demand in Asia for unusual pets and traditional medicines made from animal parts.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-06-10

Thailand No 1 HUB yet again! Jubilation in the streets!

[Thai at Heart]

Where the hell is mitraparp zoo?

[Sing_Sling]

Where the hell is mitraparp zoo?

Obviously in Mitraparp . . .

[Thai at Heart]

Where the hell is mitraparp zoo?

Obviously in Mitraparp . . .

That's a bloody long road.

[jalansanitwong]

<deleted> ! is someone attempting to re-enact the Triumph of Titus ?

14 lions ?

That cant be right surely.

How did they smuggle them into Thailand from Africa without anyone noticing?

BS

[Sing_Sling]

Where the hell is mitraparp zoo?

Obviously in Mitraparp . . .

That's a bloody long road.

Would you believe Mitraparp Sentral?

[allan michaud]

Sometimes.......no...often I wonder at the stupidity of some people.....how the f!!"?k do youhide lions????

How the f$%& did they import them?

Chances of anyone significant being locked up.... zero

[bbradsby]

"...Montri had been arrested for wildlife trading four years ago and received a one-year suspended jail term." That, plus the US$ ±1300 maximum fine, says it all about Thailand, World Hub of Endangered Species Smuggling. Hey, that's kinda catchy!

[bbradsby]

Hmm, lets see, four years ago the wildlife smuggler received a slap on the wrist from the Democrat-controlled guvvmint, now his operation is swept up by Yingluck's law enforcement boys in high profile full-on media blitz fashion... 'illegally' imported euro luxury cars are suddenly on the government's radar and front-center in the media spotlight...

one lesson for Top 1% Thais would seem to be never be seen to be aligned with only one political party, for surely, as soon as that party are no longer in power, a witch hunt will take them down spectacularly.

[geovalin]

<deleted> ! is someone attempting to re-enact the Triumph of Titus ?

14 lions ?

That cant be right surely.

How did they smuggle them into Thailand from Africa without anyone noticing?

BS

They had been smuggled before the eggs hatch.

[geovalin]

Other wild luxury animals had been discovered there: jaguars, cavalino rampante, toro, and even this French lion (well, not really luxurious)

[Maggusoil]

I don't like this competition on the domestic pet market. It must be stopped quickly.

I believe lions are not to be trusted. . .

[bluesmith]

I wonder if they will auctioned off.

[bluesmith]

_{Its easy to smuggle them in have you not heard about the International Circus coming to town.}

[circusman]

White lions are a pricey animal. Same as years ago when white tigers became popular. They are not rare and do not need special rules to protect them. Bred from one wild caught lion. So, genetic mistakes are common. Too much inbreeding = crosseyes and internal defects.

[ubonrthai]

How do you sneak a lion into a country? You can't reassemble it like a sports car...

[pattayadingo]

Maybe they dressed the lions up in those silly doggie jackets and brought them through as big pet dogs.

[hellodolly]

Sometimes.......no...often I wonder at the stupidity of some people.....how the f!!"?k do youhide lions????

First you put a muzzle on them

Not sure I would want to be there neighbor.

No wait I am sure I would not want to be one.

"Police believe that the house was part of a massive network of wildlife traders, seeing as those involved in this crime had been convicted in similar cases before."

They had between two to three hundred animals. How many do you have to have to be part of a big network?

[gtm2k]

"police found between two and three-hundred wild animals"

Just wondering how big was this house? or was it a zoo??

huge house... they had this on local news last night !

Fairly large iron cages for the bigger animals, but small cages, plastic tubs / boxes for birds/smaller animal.

The owner of the house has a previous history of such activities - and he was proudly showing off "documents" to prove that the lions etc were brought in legally to be sold to other zoos !

Pathetic state of affairs overall

[bigbamboo]

How do you sneak a lion into a country? You can't reassemble it like a sports car...

What about a Jaguar?

[pacovl46]

Put the guys in a cage for 20 years and leave them in the city center for everyone to spit on.

[tamvine]

finally customs seems to have been acting.........

How can someone be doing this in BANGKOK????

[Sayonarax]

Whats wrong with keeping lions? (provided you give them proper care)

Didnt know you was all PETA members..

[drdoom6996]

I suppose this is a genuine Hub

Of all the HUBS that are planned. This may be the first operating as a genuine HUB in Thailand. An possible the last.

[KonKorat]

They may have been caught in Bangkok's concrete jungle hehehe

[vijer]

They talk about the import of lions as though this is an everyday occurrence.

Note to customs, please do not release lions into the wilds of Bangkok.

Why not they could curb the stray dog population and the excess street vendors.h

[wirat69]

Sometimes......how the f!!"?k do youhide lions????

.... or is it for the Pride of the hide? or maybe the hide of the Pride?