Photo: WCS/Government of Thailand. NEW YORK (November 18, 2015) - WCS Praised Government of Thailand for Swift Action in Tiger Arrest.
“The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) commends the government of Thailand for arresting an alleged tiger poacher for possessing a tiger skin from an animal killed in a wildlife sanctuary" said Joe Walston, Vice President, Global Conservation.
WCS helped identify the tiger through camera traps that showed its unique stripe pattern. The experts identified the animal as a female photographed in Huai Kha Khaeng (HKK) Wildlife Sanctuary. The tigress was photographed with cubs, now estimated to be two years old. The fate of the cubs remains unknown.
“Thailand continues to show a strong commitment to conservation and management of its protected areas. The Western Forest Complex remains one of the largest remaining strongholds for tigers in Southeast Asia. WCS is proud to work with the government of Thailand and provide scientific expertise." Joe said. “WCS is confident that the poacher will be fully prosecuted, which will send a strong message to wildlife traffickers that Thailand takes wildlife crime extremely seriously."
In 2011, authorities in Thailand arrested and eventually prosecuted poachers who killed a tiger and took pictures of it on their cell phone. WCS camera trap images eventually proved the tiger was killed in a protected area.
Source: Wildlife Conservation Society.
