Thai police have rescued 47 macaques that have been being smuggled overseas for possible use in traditional Chinese medicine. The macaques were discovered crammed into plastic cages on the again of a pickup truck in Isaan, affected by overcrowding and neglect.
The disturbing scene was uncovered by the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division and nationwide park officials, who acted on an ongoing investigation into wildlife smuggling. The macaques had been in small net bags and one was sick, reported Bangkok Post.
Value for transporting the macaques, 37 year previous Kitsana Srimoros and 43 yr previous Kritsda Muensri, had been arrested and charged with unlawful possession and trading of protected wildlife.
The men claimed they had been unaware that the macaques were protected and that they had been breaking the law. Kitsana claimed that he was paid 17,000 baht to pick up the cages from Khao Takhrong National Park and ship them close to the Laos border in Nong Khai province. He said the particular person who hired him was a stranger.
Macaques are protected animals under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, and their smuggling is a severe crime.
Peersasak Paksasuay, director of the natural resource conservation and safety, mentioned that nationwide park officials had been working with police in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum and Buriram provinces to cease wildlife smuggling.
The macaques have been destined for China, the place they had been meant for use in conventional Chinese medication. It is a surprising reminder of the brutal and often unlawful wildlife commerce, and the cruel remedy that many animals endure by the hands of people.
The illegal selling of macaques is widespread practice in Thailand. Last year, a Thai woman was arrested in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, for the protected animals via Facebook.
Undercover police pretended to be interested in shopping for a macaque so they could arrest the woman. One macaque, a basket and a bottle of milk have been seized by police. The woman was buying macaques and reselling them for a better worth online, with no licence to own wild animals.
Thankfully, these macaques were rescued and might be taken to a wildlife centre within the Khon San district of Chaiyaphum. It’s a small victory in the battle in opposition to wildlife trafficking, but it’s also a reminder that there’s still an extended way to go in protecting animals from human greed and exploitation..