Thai authorities have rescued five wild animals, including two lions and three bears, after discovering them trapped in cages at a Thmor Dar casino in Cambodia, as border tensions in the Trat province ease, Thai media reported on December 23.
The Army Marines Special Forces Trat on December 22 carried out security and cleared the Thmor Dar casino area after the situation along the border Trat improved.
During the inspection, the authorities discovered wild animals trapped in cages: 1 male lion and 1 female lion, 2 horse bears and 1 dog bear.
The special forces have coordinated with the National Nature Reserve of Thailand (DNP) to carry out rescue according to animal welfare standards.
Thai officials are still collecting evidence and checking the origin of the animals found at Thmor Dar casino in Cambodia to take legal action under the wildlife conservation law.
Atthapol Charoenchansa - General Director of the National Nature Reserve of Thailand (DNP) - said that all 5 animals were found in a state of serious weakness, skinny bones, exposed ribs and were believed to have been deprived of water and food for a long time, causing them to fall into critical condition.
After being informed by the Thai military, he ordered the wildlife conservation department to send fully equipped teams to the scene to assess the conditions of the animals and move them away.
The bears were taken to the Bang Lamung Wildlife Breeding Station in Chon buri for recovery while the pair of lions were taken to the Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Station in Ratchaburi.
