Man found with 14 rare albino lions in house raid
Published: 2013 June 11 13:23:45 (5513 Views)
A pet shop owner has been arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing wildlife after the discovery of hundreds of protected species, including 14 rare albino lions.
A raid on Montri Boonprom-on's house near Bangkok found hundreds of birds, meerkats, tortoises, peafowls, monkeys and other species believed to be from overseas and Thailand.
Police and forestry officials also discovered a hornbill and a leopard cat that are protected by Thai law.
Police Colonel Ek Ekasart said Montri, 41, faces charges of possessing wildlife animals and carcasses and could face up to four years in jail.
He said: "We received a complaint about the smell from the neighbours and after investigating we discovered the animals hidden there."
Montri, who owned an exotic pet shop at Bangkok's renowned Chatuchak weekend market, had been previously convicted of trading in wildlife, police say.
A second man has also been arrested, officers said. Both suspects deny involvement in the illegal wildlife trade.
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.
Once the legal process is completed, some of the animals could be released into the wild and others sent to zoos, police said.
- SkyNews
A raid on Montri Boonprom-on's house near Bangkok found hundreds of birds, meerkats, tortoises, peafowls, monkeys and other species believed to be from overseas and Thailand.
Police and forestry officials also discovered a hornbill and a leopard cat that are protected by Thai law.
Police Colonel Ek Ekasart said Montri, 41, faces charges of possessing wildlife animals and carcasses and could face up to four years in jail.
He said: "We received a complaint about the smell from the neighbours and after investigating we discovered the animals hidden there."
Montri, who owned an exotic pet shop at Bangkok's renowned Chatuchak weekend market, had been previously convicted of trading in wildlife, police say.
A second man has also been arrested, officers said. Both suspects deny involvement in the illegal wildlife trade.
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.
Once the legal process is completed, some of the animals could be released into the wild and others sent to zoos, police said.
- SkyNews
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