BANGKOK, June 11 — Police and officials of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry on Monday raided a house in Bangkok’s suburban Khlong Sam Wa district and found a large collection of animals including 14 white lions.
The large compound, which has an area of around two rai, was filled with cages of wild animals, many of them of protected species.
The wildlife at the site included 14 white lions (panthera leo), four civets, one leopard, two hornbills, and one slow loris, as well as 23 meerkats, 12 peacocks, 17 marmosets and various types of turtles.
The owner of the house Montri Boonphrom-on, 41, claimed the animals were legally imported, mostly from South Africa.
He also showed documents that the trade was approved by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
However, police said, initially there were four species of animals – leopard, hornbill, civet, and the slow loris — that violated the law and Mr Montri would be charged with illegal possession of and trade in protected wildlife.
Police and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry officials said they would investigate and verify the documents as to whether the wild animals were imported legally.
