Two forest rangers killed in gun battle with tiger hunters

The latest loss has raised the number of casualties among men hired to protect against wildlife poaching and tree cutting. Since 2009, 42 forest rangers have been killed on duty and 48 others injured, 22 of them seriously, according to statistics from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

The hunters were believed to be members of a Hmong hilltribe gang active in the Thungyai Naresuan and Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuaries in Tak’s Umphang district.

The fatal armed clash took place on Thursday night in the eastern section of Thungyai Naresuan. The forest rangers, assisted by soldiers and local administrative officials, had followed the hunters since Monday after the carcass of a boar was found in the forest, according to the department’s deputy director-general, Theerapat Prayurasiddhi. He said the carcass of the boar, killed by poisoning, was believed to be used as bait by the tiger hunters.

Theerapat said the hunters opened fire first and a gunfight ensued. Four forest rangers were seriously injured in the clash and were sent to Tak’s Mae Sot Hospital. Two of them were pronounced dead – Boonsri Inthapanya, 51, and Anthong Ngamying, 22. The injured rangers were identified as Piriya Khaoluang, 35, and Sanan Ongkarn, 54.

One hunter was shot dead during the gunfight. His identity remained unknown.

The hunters, believed to number five, were heavily |armed with AK-47 assault |rifles and carbine automatic rifles. Four other hunters managed to flee the scene, and some of them were believed to have suffered injuries, according to Theerapat. He expressed his condolences to family members of the slain rangers, adding that they would get “full assistance” from the department. 

The senior official also said the department had begun implementing a policy of buying life-insurance policies for its forest rangers, as part of increased employment benefits.

The department has about 20,000 forest rangers.