PUBLISHED: 30 Dec 2024 at 06: 07
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation ( DNP ) has unearthed details of the gorilla baby smuggling network based at Chatuchak Market, says DNP director-general Atthapol Charoenchansa.
A rich businessman who collects amazing animals was the buyer who attempted to import a baby gorilla from Turkey, he claimed, without giving any further details.
He also mandated a market crackdown for his involvement in the shipment of the gorilla, which is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ( Cites ) and is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) and is regulated by the international trade in the species.
The Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye on December 21seized the child monkey after it was brought on a journey from Nigeria to Bangkok and placed in a wooden field. The package was supposed to contain 50 rats.
According to Mr. Atthapol, the maker of the order resides in Asia and keeps wild animals in his collection.
Investigators discovered that the situation was connected to a Chatuchak Market store, which houses exotic animals from overseas for orders and sales. He said,” People who want exotic animals go there because there is a channel for importing and exporting wild animals.”
Authorities conducted a search of the pet store on Friday, according to Pol Maj Gen Watcharin Phusit, the NED’s chief. Authorities raided the store on December 25 at TK Farm in Nakhon Pathom. The business is registered as an importer and producer of animals.
Police also invited the agency’s owner to a meeting at the location to get more details, but he refused and turned his cellphone off. Investigators examined whether boxes allegedly used to buy rabbits were the same kind of boxes that contained the monkey. According to authorities, the plantation owner claimed that the containers had been destroyed.
” If the land owner is really stupid, he may have told the authorities and told us how many days he had imported creatures into Thailand and what kinds of animals were,” he said.
Officers Maj Gen Watcharin stated that although the officers are aware of the foreigner’s identity and need to conduct further investigation. Police may launch an investigation with the Department of Livestock Development or the Customs Department.