A private organisation has filed a complaint involving the death of a Siberian tiger at the Ubon Ratchathani zoo in April last year.
Srisuwan Chanya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association, sought an investigation into its death and punishments for the chief of the Ubon Ratchathani zoo, as well as the director of the Zoological Park Organization and members of its committee.
The letter was submitted to the prime minister, who directly supervises the two bodies.
The tiger, whose name was “Cracker”, died after eating food laced with carbofuran on April 13 last year. Carbofuran is one of the most toxic pesticides.
“The zoo and Zoological Park Organization did not release any news on this. On the contrary, they tried to cover it up,” claimed Mr Srisuwan.
It was not until six days later, or April 19, that the zoo sent the samples and organs of the animal for an autopsy at a provincial medical science unit. The unit later revealed the animal had been poisoned with carbofuran.
“Its death was significant because the breed is an endangered species under the 2008 IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature] Red List of Threatened Species. However, the chiefs of the two organisations have failed to take action or investigate the death,” he continued.
Since tiger skins, carcasses and organs are much sought after for decoration purposes and unproven aphrodisiac properties, it is not unthinkable that some officials might have been hired to kill the big cat and smuggled out the carcass or organs, he added.
The death of Cracker, bought by taxpayers’ money, reflects a lax supervision of the chiefs and committee members of the two agencies.
He demanded an investigation into the death and sought punishments for the wrongdoers if found guilty.
Ubon Ratchathani Muang police told reporters on Monday Vet Wanchai Tanwattana, the zoo’s chief, had sent an official to report to police on April 27 that one or more thieves had broken into the zoo’s veterinary hospital and stolen the skin of the dead tiger. He asked the police to check the scene and investigate the unnatural death of the tiger.
A police team set up to look into the facts identified the suspects as Prawit Thongbai, 27, and Vichai Taethaisong, 39, the tiger’s keepers who allegedly mixed Furadan, the commercial name of the carbofuran substance, in its food.
The pair allegedly asked Surachai Kwamsawat, 37, a former worker at the zoo, to steal the skin on April 26 to be sold to Amnat Inchukul, 29, a Bangkok trader for 20,000 baht.
After gathering the facts on May 15, police charged Mr Prawit and Mr Vichai with collaborating to cause people to lose their assets by poisoning the tiger, to steal at night and to trade an animal of an endangered species. They confessed to some of the charges but denied poisoning Cracker.
Mr Surachai was charged with stealing at night and accepting stolen goods.
Mr Amnat, who was arrested on Sept 4, was charged with buying stolen goods and having in possession the carcass of an endangered-species animal. He denied the charge, saying he did buy some edible goods from Mr Prawit but not the animal’s skin.
The case was filed with the Ubon Ratchathani court who is reviewing it.
Cracker's body is seen at Ubon Ratchathani zoo on April 13, 2017 after eating food laced with carbofuran the previous day.