A ranger from Thap Lan National Park was shot and wounded by a log poacher while on patrol late on Monday night, according to an urgent report by park chief Viroj Rojanachinda to the Prachin Buri-based Conservation Administration Office 1.
A team of park rangers was dispatched to Khao Lang Khon forest in tambon Kaeng Din So of Prachin Buri's Nadi district followig a tip off that phayung wood poachers had felled trees and were about to deliver them out of the forest.
About 11.30pm, near Wang Ai Pong village, they spotted a man taking phayung wood out of the forest.
On sighting the patrol, the poacher opened fire at them with a shotgun, wounding Arthit Phiewngam, 30, in the right arm. He was later admitted to Kabin Buri Hospital.
The other rangers managed to catch the poacher, who was later identified as Wichien Worasawat, 55, of Prachin Buri's Nadi district.