© ASEAN-WEN PCU

On January 21, 2013 - CITES Thailand's Wildlife Checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Royal Thai Customs, after inspecting a suspicious luggage believed to carry illegal articles which resembled animals in the xray images, rescued 11 live otters, 6 of which are Smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the rest being Oriental small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). The luggage was opened after no one claimed ownership over the luggage.

The otters are considered as rare wildlife and protected In Thailand, thus requiring government permit for export. They were seized following section 27 of Customs Act, B.E. 2469; sections 16 and 17 of Customs Act, B.E. 2482; section 23 of Thailand Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2535; and the Animal Epidemics Act, B.E. 2499.

Rescued animals at DNP Wildlife Clinic

Similarly, from 20-21 January 2013, enforcement officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) patrolled Srisomrat Market situated next to Chatuchak Weekend Market and seized various protected species of birds: 28 Red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), 2 Stripe-throated Bulbul (pycnonotus finlaysoni), and 3 White-rumped Shama (copsychus malabaricus). These were confiscated following sections 19-20, and 55 of Thailand Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2535 where possession of protected wild animal without permission, selling protected wildlife without permission, and buying of wild animals are prohibited.

On 22 January 2013 in Pathum Wan District near Erawan Shrine, DNP officials seized 83 Scaly-breasted munia (Lonchura punctulata) following sections 19-20, 55 of the Thailand Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2535.