Police team probing alleged crimes in Songkhla Zoo seeks wildlife records of past 10 years
A police team is investigating the alleged murder of the top Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand (ZPOT) official, Suriya Saengpong, last week, as well as the case of a missing albino barking deer from Songkhla Zoo.
Related Story: Top zoo official shot dead while probing missing albino barking deer
The director-general of the ZPOT was shot dead while investigating the case of the missing deer by a senior official, who allegedly also shot himself.
The deer went missing in February but the zoo's director had claimed it was swallowed by a python.
Police Maj-General Damrat Wiriyakul, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 9, said on Tuesday that the investigation team has called for the wildlife records of the past 10 years after it was found that 11 macaw parrots, stolen by two teenagers, had been sold to businessmen. Later, Songkhla Provincial Police arrested the culprits and returned two of the parrots in 2014.
The ZPOT has also called for an audit of rhinos imported for zoos nationwide. They also urged police to investigate the disappearance of steel bird cages, as they suspected zookeepers may be involved in stealing them.
Arkom Maneekulbok, a board member of ZPOT, will temporarily take over the management of Songkhla Zoo.