Police Bust Illegal Hotel, Seize White Lion Cub in Chiang Mai
Police raided an illegal hotel in Chiang Mai's Muang District on September 18 and seized a young white lion cub with no documentation, the first such case in the province. The Chinese owner faces charges for operating an unlicensed hotel an
On September 18, police from the Provincial Police Bureau, Muang Chiang Mai District Administration, the 16th Protected Area Management Office (Chiang Mai), Tourist Police, Immigration Police, and Chiang Mai City Municipality jointly executed a search warrant at a residential house on Charoen Suk Road, Tambon Chang Phueak, Muang District, Chiang Mai Province, following complaints about dangerous animals being kept on the premises and disturbing residents with loud roaring sounds.
During the search of the first-floor lobby, officers found a female white lion cub, approximately two to three months old, being cared for by a Chinese handler. A 40-year-old Chinese woman named Ms. Wang claimed ownership of the house, along with two other Chinese employees who held valid work documentation.
When authorities searched the upper floors, they discovered the premises had been illegally modified and converted into a daily-rate hotel with eight Chinese tourists currently staying there. Although the guests had valid tourist visas, the hotel operated as a closed facility admitting only Chinese nationals and had not obtained the required business license from the district office. The operation also violated public health laws.
Initial investigation revealed the white lion cub had no microchip and no possession documentation—marking the first such case in Chiang Mai Province. The 16th Protected Area Management Office transferred the cub to Chiang Mai Night Safari for temporary care, as the young cub remained heavily bonded to its handler and would cry loudly if separated. Officials brought a Mickey Mouse doll—the cub's favorite toy—to help reduce its distress.
Ms. Wang was taken into custody and referred to Chang Phueak Police Station for investigation on three serious charges: possessing a protected wild animal without authorization (punishable by up to six months imprisonment and a fine not exceeding 100,000 baht), operating a hotel without a license, and conducting a business dangerous to public health without authorization. Authorities are also investigating the source of the lion cub and tracing financial connections to determine whether any links exist to a Chinese organized crime network.
