Wildlife Officials Raid Chiang Mai Home Over Illegal Lion Cub
Wildlife officials raided a Chiang Mai home on September 18 and seized an illegally-kept lion cub lacking microchip identification and proper acquisition documents. The animal was handed to a wildlife facility for care while authorities pur
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants' Conservation Area Administration 16 (Chiang Mai), led by Pornarin Khumthong, conducted a joint operation with natural resource police, special task units, and Chiang Mai municipal authorities on September 18. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Charoen Suk Road in Chang Phueak District following community complaints about safety and legal concerns.
The search discovered one lion cub without a microchip implant and lacking proper documentation of acquisition, constituting illegal possession of a controlled wildlife species without authorization. Krichayam Kongsatree, director of Conservation Area Administration 16, stated that the operation responded promptly to public concerns, noting that lions are controlled wildlife requiring permits and strict safety measures. Keeping such animals in residential areas without proper controls or documentation poses risks to neighboring residents.
Authorities filed criminal charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act B.E. 2562, Section 19, which prohibits possession of protected or controlled wildlife without registrar approval. The lion cub was temporarily placed under the care of Chiang Mai Night Safari for veterinary examination and ongoing care. The department emphasized that legal possession of controlled wildlife requires notification to officials and compliance with husbandry, storage, and safety standards.
Investigators will pursue legal proceedings against the owner and investigate the cub's origins. The Conservation Area Administration 16 urges the public to report illegal or unsafe wildlife keeping to the National Parks hotline at 1362, available 24 hours.
