KANCHANABURI — Authorities are investigating Tuesday’s discovery of nearly 300 rai of encroached land in the Wang-Yai and Mae-Nam-Noi national-forest reserves in hopes of identifying the unknown poachers.
Park officials inspect an encroachment covering almost 300 rai of land in the Wang-Yai and Mae-Nam-Noi National Forest Reserves in Kanchanuburi on Tuesday. (Photo by Piyarach Chongcharoen)
The discovery was made at a forest area near Moo 2 village in tambon Bong Tee of Sai Yok district by a joint forest patrol of Sai Yok National Park officials, soldiers and border-patrol police looking for illegal activities.
The 60-strong team discovered bare stumps of small trees and plantations of rubber, banana, palm oil and cassava scattered throughout 273 rai, along with a six-metre-wide, 1.9-metre high concrete water tank.
Officials, however, found no one on the premises.
Sai Yok park official Boonchit Kornchatree said an inspection of the invaded forest areas indicated that the encroachment happened recently.
The park officials had filed a complaint with Sai Yok police station and asked them to bring the poachers to justice swiftly, Mr Boonchit said.