Hunting Thailand's poachers | Bangkok Post: news

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Shots in the park threaten nation's endangered species

The Kaeng Krachan National Park chief says if illegal hunting such as that allegedly involving a senior police official is allowed to continue on protected lands it will strike a severe blow to Thailand's biodiversity

It was the shooting of the cat-sized krachong (mouse deer) that really made Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn angry. He and a team of park officials had just arrested a group of illegal hunters who had shot the krachong for sport, along with more than 100 rare giant Asian river frogs, in November of last year inside the park.

CRIME SCENE: A team of police investigators visit the camp site in Kaeng Krachan National Park where a group of men were arrested for illegal hunting.

Mr Chaiwat said it was an important reminder that recreational hunting persists in protected forests, and it adds pressure on the country to wipe it out. This is especially important as Thailand is planning to put forward a proposal to nominate Kaeng Krachan as a World Heritage site.

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  • bangmodken

    ThailandPost : 1,305

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    Discussion 11 : 11 Feb 2013 at 20.1011

    Some posters here generalize a little too much about Thai people. If ALL rangers were connected to the Police or Military and ALL rangers are poachers themselves,we wouldn't read about a story such as this one,would we? And if ALL Thai people only care about themselves,we wouldn't read stories once in a while about grassroot/enviromental groups or public servants,fighting against the big business elite and their cronies,would we?
    BP should take a leading position in bringing to our attention these caring and brave Thai people's life-threatening fights for Thai nature and wildlife.

  • drsmith

    ThailandPost : 1,575

    Send message

    Discussion 10 : 11 Feb 2013 at 13.1510

    Thai people care only about themselves and nothing about the environment or the country. The most selfish of all people live right here in Thailand. Those sworn to uphold the law are often the biggest abusers of the law. Lawless societies have no place to go except done. Ask Egypt and Libya.

  • john49

    ThailandPost : 484

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    Discussion 9 : 10 Feb 2013 at 14.479

    Rangers should stay live in these national parks and arm themselves with sniper rifles,
    maybe a 50 cal barret.

    And what about resorts in national parks, are they still being demolished??

  • jacksprat

    ThailandPost : 2,449

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    Discussion 8 : 10 Feb 2013 at 12.038

    I remember when Thailand was losing forest rangers every year, maybe still is. The Forestry Dept finally armed them with shotguns. Didn't do much good though, since the timber and animal poachers carried M16s and AK47s.

  • Asterix

    ThailandPost : 77

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    Discussion 7 : 10 Feb 2013 at 11.237

    By reading this article, you will see that it is hopeless that Thailand will take the right direction to protect its flora and fauna in national parks as well as corals and tropical fish in marine parks.

  • hillfarang

    ThailandPost : 1,307

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    Discussion 6 : 10 Feb 2013 at 10.126

    "But even with this evidence, the senior police official's charges were dropped while the remaining eight alleged poachers face prosecution."

    And thus the problem: There will not be any changes unless and until they 'fry' a big fish, at least once in a while. The Courts should be used at the National level to take these cases & eliminate local influence. It should not be handled by 'local' police!

  • siamitude

    ThailandPost : 796

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    Discussion 5 : 10 Feb 2013 at 09.505

    Stop hypocrisy and clean up your act. We all know many paochers are rangers themselves or somewhat connected to police or military,

  • dao

    ThailandPost : 4,642

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    Discussion 4 : 10 Feb 2013 at 09.214

    Harsh punishments and making sure the rangers are properly armed and don't have to fear for their jobs arresting people in positions of power would help .

  • oldairman

    ThailandPost : 733

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    Discussion 3 : 10 Feb 2013 at 07.413

    With Pol Lt Thirayuth threatening "Don't you know who I am" I am glad that the park officials stood up to him.
    he probably thought (as dinosaurs do) that he would get away scot free but once the news gets out onto the internet the genii is out of the bottle and you can't put it back.
    Do this all the time and let the spotlight shine everywhere even to the very top and publish it on the TV, in the papers and on social networks because the more people that know the harder it is to sweep under the carpet.

  • jacksprat

    ThailandPost : 2,449

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    Discussion 2 : 10 Feb 2013 at 07.382

    I have never understood the fascination with killing creatures that cannot defend themselves.

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