PUBLISHED: 13 Dec 2024 at 17: 50
A person has been detained at his apartment in Ratchaburi for capturing numerous threatened wild animals, including cotton-topped tamarin monkeys. He admitted to buying them website, authorities said on Friday.
After receiving information of unlawful possession of imported wild animals, officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crimes and Environmental Crimes Suppression Division and representatives from the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation raided a posh river house in tambon Kung Kratin of Muang area on Friday.
A man who was only identified as” Tong” made the claim that he was the owner and gave permission for the authorities to inspect the property.
More than 50 animals from several endangered species were found confined in cages around the world.
They included cotton-top tamarin monkeys, cat monkeys, De Brazza’s monkeys, guenons monkeys, macaque monkeys, Geoffroy’s insect monkeys, galago tree babies, Aldabra large tortoises, sulcata tortoises, American dark parrots, toco toucans and several species of snakes.
The creatures were said to have an estimated price of 3 million baht.
Importantly, the cotton-top tamarins, tribal to Colombia, and American grey parrots are critically endangered species listed under CITES Appendix I, indicating the highest level of protection.
According to reports, many of these creatures have major market value. For example, the eight cotton-top tamarins are valued at about 150, 000 ringgit each.
Mr. Tong admitted to having purchased the creatures from Facebook groups and keeping them as kittens without getting the appropriate grants. He was accused of possessing prohibited habitat without authorization.
( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham
Police raid a luxury riverside home in Kung Kratin sub-district in Muang district in Ratchaburi on Friday after being alerted to illegal possession of imported exotic wildlife. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)