Gaur probably killed by local poachers: wildlife chief
The wildlife department on Wednesday ordered officials to check on local restaurants to see if they were selling game following the discovery gaur carcasses in a national park possibly as a result of illegal hunting.
The officials were also told to patrol other risky areas – such as Nakhon Ratchasima’s Khao Phaengma and Khao Yai – to prevent more killings of the endangered animals.
The orders came after Tuesday’s discovery of the carcasses of two large gaurs, each weighing more than 900kg, in the Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun province.
The department's deputy chief Teerapat Prayoonsitthi yesterday said he suspected the protected animals had been killed by hunters to sell flesh to lovers of exotic game.
However Teerapat suspected the gaur killings in Phetchabun forests weren’t carried out by game meat trade hunters, but by local poachers who were after scented woods.
The animal meat is reportedly bought by restaurants for about Bt200Bt300 per kilogram.
He instructed officials to check on local restuarants as well as villagers known to hunt to search for leads in this case, which has affected the more than 100 endangered animals in the park.
