Huge Wildlife Seizure in Thailand

On 21 January, a significant wildlife seizure took place in Chumphon Province, Thailand, when highway police, along with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NRECD) and in conjunction with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, stopped a suspicious vehicle. In the vehicle, authorities found seven wild animals that had been smuggled from abroad.

The animals seized included:

• Three orangutans
• Three primates (including a white-handed gibbon and a siamang gibbon)
• One goral

Further investigation revealed that the animals had been smuggled via Highway 41 and were en route to clients in Bangkok. Two suspects, a 63-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, claimed to have received the animals in Songkhla for delivery to Bangkok, without the necessary permits.

A subsequent house raid in Ratchaphruek led to the discovery of additional animals, including:

• Seven cotton-top tamarins
• Two red pandas

These animals are now in the custody of authorities, and investigations are ongoing.

This shocking case underscores the cruelty of the illegal wildlife trade, which subjects animals to inhumane treatment and exploitation. We encourage you to read more about the likely fate of these poor animals and the growing crisis of captive baby orangutans in Thailand.

Read more about the alarming rise in captive baby orangutans in Thailand

We hope that the authorities will bring swift justice to the criminals responsible for these heinous crimes and that these animals will find safety and care moving forward.