PHETCHABURI: Two Karen hunters, father and son, have surrendered to officials and admitted killing a protected serow in Kaeng Krachan National Park, insisting they hunt only to feed their family.
Noppadol Jeebong and Haesa Jeebong face several criminal charges.
Mana Phermpool, chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, and Suthee Laosubin, chief of Kaeng Krachan district, led local and park officials to execute court warrants for the arrest of the two men in Moo 2 village of tambon Huai Mae Priang on Wednesday morning.
The suspects were then handed over to Kaeng Krachan police.
Both men were quoted as confessing to the hunt, but insisted they were not hired to kill a serow, there was no profit motive. They hunted only for food.
The Phetchaburi provincial court issued warrants on charges of causing danger to an animal, illegally carrying and shooting firearms in a national park, illegal hunting, and illegally possessing and carrying firearms and bullets.
On Saturday park rangers heard gunshots, followed up and saw two hunters butchering a serow inside the national park. The hunters fled when their dogs warned them as the rangers approached.
The head and four legs of a serow, other meat, a shotgun, a home-made long-gun, and ammunition were left at the scene.
The serow, a goat-antelope, is one of the rare species found in the park. The fertile soil in the area makes it a favoured spot for both wildlife and hunters.