A transfer order is likely to have triggered the fatal shooting of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand (ZPOT) chief on Saturday while he was at Songkhla Zoo to follow up on the disappearance of a rare albino barking deer.
After the publicity the shooting generated, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said the ZPOT board is expected to examine other mysterious disappearances of the animals at the zoo and extend the probe to animal sanctuaries nationwide while urging the public not to jump to conclusions until the probe is finished.
Chavalit Chookajorn, chairman of ZPOT board, said the most likely reason for the shooting was the transfer of the zoo's director ordered to facilitate the investigation into the missing rare deer which was last seen at the zoo in February.
He was speaking after a two-hour meeting with zoo officials following the shooting on the weekend.
Suriya Saengpong, director of the ZPOT, was shot dead by Phuwadol Suwanna, a senior veterinarian and head of the zoo's conservation, research and animal health division, in a meeting about the animal's disappearance.
The gunman, who killed himself shortly after, is among four officials including Chalermwut Kasetsomboon, director of Songkhla Zoo, who have been transferred pending the investigation of the deer case.
"Based on my talks with the staff, the shooting was likely to arise from blind rage and a lack of communication. [Mr Suriya] came here to investigate and met the official right after the transfer order.
"I think they didn't understood each other and [Mr Phuwadol] thought he was removed from the post permanently.
"Actually the transfer order is procedural, especially in Mr Phuwadol's case. He was directly in charge of the animal's welfare and did the autopsy. So the transfer was necessary to assure the public that the investigation would be straightforward," said Mr Chavalit.
Security at the zoo was extra-tight yesterday as Mr Chavalit turned up for the visit. About 50 police were deployed to search those taking part in the meeting.
Mr Chavalit said this was the second time a deer had gone missing this year.
The first case was reported in February and the outcome of that investigation is expected tomorrow.
The animal's pedigree traces back to a deer that a local villager presented to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother as a gift.
Her Majesty later gave the deer to Dusit Zoo where it reproduced and some of the offspring were given to other zoos, including Songkhla Zoo.
The second missing deer case was reported last month and it was concluded that the deer was eaten by a python that came from outside the zoo compound. He said the zoo had photo evidence to back the claim.
When asked if the animal's disappearance was linked with wildlife traders, Mr Chavalit said the initial probe found no connection but the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DPN) and the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division would also investigate.
He said the minister asked the ZPOT to provide assistance to Suriya's and Phuwadol's families and manage staff morale following the tragedy.
The shooting would be handled by police while the deer case investigation would be supervised by the ZPOT board, according to the minister.
Kanita Ouitavon, chief of the Wildlife Forensic Task Force under the DPN, said the examination of DNA collected from the deer bones found at Songkhla Zoo in February showed the animal was a common deer, not a rare albino barking deer.
She also said her unit was asked by Songkhla Zoo to examine samples of a white rhino horn after it was dead.
The unit found that part of its horn was missing, raising suspicions rhino horns are a valuable commodity, she said.
Meanwhile, Songkhla Zoo went about its business yesterday but the shootings cast a sombre mood over staff as well as visitors.
Mr Chalermwut, the zoo director, declined to speak to the press.
Atsadej Saengpong, Suriya's son, said his father was named the ZPOT director in early September and was determined to push for reforms and stamp out what he saw as a culture of illegal wildlife trading.
"It's the police's job to investigate. I believe wildlife trading in the zoos does exist. My father had discussed it and told me he was determined to address this issue," he said.