NAKHON PATHOM, Dec 26 (TNA) – Police and national park officials on Wednesday raided a trading firm in Nakhon Pathom to investigate whether the company was involved in the smuggling of a baby gorilla from Nigeria to Thailand, which was intercepted at Turkey’s Istanbul airport.
Officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and police from the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division brought a search warrant from Nakhon Pathom Province to search a trading firm in Ta Kong sub-district of the provincial seat, as the company was allegedly linked to documents related to the smuggling of a baby gorilla from Nigeria.
The owner of the company provided information that the company is legally registered as an animal trader, importer, and breeder and has a shop in the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok. Last week, an African man reportedly came to the shop and requested help importing rabbits. The owner claims he knows little about the deal. However, officials have not concluded their investigation and are seeking more information to verify the existence of the alleged African man.
Officials found numerous animals at the firm and are verifying the registration of animals discovered during the search. Today’s search follows the interception of a baby gorilla during a random search by customs officers during a flight’s transit from Nigeria to Bangkok via Turkey.
The Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division is coordinating with concerned agencies to expand the investigation and has found that the gorilla was sent from Nigeria. The animal was found in a wooden shipping crate. The shipment invoice stated it contained 50 rabbits and was addressed to a destination in Thailand. The documents indicated both the seller and buyer.
Gorillas are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), designating them as critically endangered. They are banned from being imported to Thailand, except for research studies between zoos.
The only gorilla living in Thailand is Bua Noi, a female gorilla who has been confined to a zoo on the top floor of a PATA department store for almost three decades. Bua Noi was imported before the ban took effect in 1992. At present, the owner has registered Bua Noi with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. (TNA)
