Bangkok, March 22nd, 2025 — The Department of National Parks officials executed a search warrant at a house in Nong Chok, Bangkok, after receiving a tip about illegal wildlife trade on social media.
Authorities found two spotted owls, a slow loris (listed under CITES Appendix I), a yellow-headed temple turtle, and two Keeled box turtles, all caged on the property.
The homeowner, publicly identified only as Banphot (last name was withheld by the police), 37, reportedly admitted to buying the animals and selling offspring to interested buyers.
The suspect was charged with possessing protected wildlife without a permit and handed over to investigators at the Environmental Crime Division. The seized animals were transferred to the Wildlife Conservation Office for care and rehabilitation.
