Exploited lizard puts rainy-day tout in hot water
Phuket Gazette


Mr Ruonkimlhee holding the exploited iguana. Photo: Kathu District Office

PHUKET: -- Non-stop rain in Patong could not stop an iguana tout from offering tourists photo opportunities with his captive reptile, a protected species. However, his persistence paid no dividends.

Kathu District officers arrested the tout yesterday afternoon on Patong's Phang Muang Sai Kor Road.

“Ruonkimlhee Unruean, 46, from Patong, was caught with the iguana in front of One Tambon One Product market,” Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

“The iguana touts have switched to working during the day, believing that this will lower their risk of being caught,” he added.

Mr Ruonkimlhee was swiftly taken to Kathu police station for questioning, while the creature was handed over to the Environmental Conservation Division at Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary, where it will be examined, treated if necessary and protected, said Mr Veera.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Exploited-lizard-puts-rainy-day-tout-in-hot-water-22450.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-08

Obnoxious creature.

The iguana is really sweet, though.

Kathu District officers caught the guy, not Patong police. Mr. Veera seems a lot more active than any of the other officials on the island.

This should be the easiest of all of Phuket's problems to eradicate. A continuation of this type of touting is just an indicator as to how useless or corrupt the local police and officials are.

Although I really hate these guys for doing what they do, and at the same time applaud the authorities for caring, I needs to be said that they will have no case against this man.

An iguana is a foreign species of wildlife and therefor NOT protected under Thai law at all, unless caught at illegally entering or leaving the country. For this reason the man will walk and the animal cannot be confiscated at all. If he would be seen with for example a gibbon or loris he can be prosecuted and the animal will be confiscated.

No foreign wildlife species are protected under the Thai wildlife preservation act (1992), not even a chimp, lion or african elephant...

Edwin Wiek

Founder and Secretary

Wildlife Friends Foundation

Although I really hate these guys for doing what they do, and at the same time applaud the authorities for caring, I needs to be said that they will have no case against this man.

An iguana is a foreign species of wildlife and therefor NOT protected under Thai law at all, unless caught at illegally entering or leaving the country. For this reason the man will walk and the animal cannot be confiscated at all. If he would be seen with for example a gibbon or loris he can be prosecuted and the animal will be confiscated.

No foreign wildlife species are protected under the Thai wildlife preservation act (1992), not even a chimp, lion or african elephant...

Edwin Wiek

Founder and Secretary

Wildlife Friends Foundation

Incredible. Thanks for the info.

So Thailand needs to change the law.

Can't see that happening while reds vs. yellow and Dems vs Thaksin occupy 99% of Thai politics.

and THAT 1 single bullsh!t arrest makes the news! what about the other 10 I could find in Bangla right now??

<deleted> wants to pay to take their picture with a f***ing iguana? They're a freaking pest and much larger in Florida!

Way to go guys.... Arrest someone for something not illegal...make sure you don't trip over all the slow loris touts chasing after the lizard guy......

Although I really hate these guys for doing what they do, and at the same time applaud the authorities for caring, I needs to be said that they will have no case against this man.

An iguana is a foreign species of wildlife and therefor NOT protected under Thai law at all, unless caught at illegally entering or leaving the country. For this reason the man will walk and the animal cannot be confiscated at all. If he would be seen with for example a gibbon or loris he can be prosecuted and the animal will be confiscated.

No foreign wildlife species are protected under the Thai wildlife preservation act (1992), not even a chimp, lion or african elephant...

Edwin Wiek

Founder and Secretary

Wildlife Friends Foundation

ok... but I wonder if the tout knew that it wasn't a thai and protected lizard.... he could have been unlucky and chosen a Monitor Lizard to balance on his shoulder, though doubt many tourists would have wanted a 'cuddle shot '.. ..most lizards look similar unless you watch TV... ...

This should be the easiest of all of Phuket's problems to eradicate. A continuation of this type of touting is just an indicator as to how useless or corrupt the local police and officials are.

That might actually be very handy tool.

Somewhat like the Big Mac index but than for corruption statistics.

Oi! The police here do a fantastic job. You're simply applying inappropriate performance metrics

This should be the easiest of all of Phuket's problems to eradicate. A continuation of this type of touting is just an indicator as to how useless or corrupt the local police and officials are.

That might actually be very handy tool.

Somewhat like the Big Mac index but than for corruption statistics.

Not sure what this has to do with Ronald McDonald or Lizards but...........

There have been attempts to build a comparative "corruption index" for most countries. Few surprises in this ranking ..........

http://www.heritage.org/index/explore

This should be the easiest of all of Phuket's problems to eradicate. A continuation of this type of touting is just an indicator as to how useless or corrupt the local police and officials are.

That might actually be very handy tool.

Somewhat like the Big Mac index but than for corruption statistics.

Not sure what this has to do with Ronald McDonald or Lizards but...........

There have been attempts to build a comparative "corruption index" for most countries. Few surprises in this ranking ..........

http://www.heritage.org/index/explore

Have a look at this informative website page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Mac_Index

<deleted> wants to pay to take their picture with a f***ing iguana? They're a freaking pest and much larger in Florida!

No, no. They are called "a-l-l-i-g-a-t-o-r-s".

I remember seeing a lot of gibbons around the red light areas. How did they get them off the streets?

Does this sort of news make the Thai papers? Thais know exactly how corruption works so know that this is just propaganda