Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin has ordered strict legal action against the owner of a pet lion that escaped and attacked a child in Bo Phloi District, Kanchanaburi Province.
The incident occurred on the night of October 4 near Rang Kham Village in Nong Kum Subdistrict. The victim was quickly taken to Fort Surasi Hospital for medical treatment.
Atthaphon Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), stated that the Minister was immediately briefed on the incident and instructed officials to pursue legal action against the lion’s owner without exception. He also ordered the animal to be confiscated and transferred to a suitable government facility for long-term care. The Bueng Chawak Wildlife Breeding Station in Suphan Buri Province has already prepared a secure enclosure to accommodate the lion.
The Minister emphasized that the case should serve as a warning to individuals who wish to keep protected or dangerous wild animals, urging the public to recognize the responsibilities and potential risks involved in ownership. He added that the government views this incident as an important lesson in wildlife management and public safety.
The lion’s owner has been charged under Section 15 of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2562 (2019). The law prohibits releasing or allowing a protected wild animal to escape one’s control. Violators face a maximum prison sentence of six months, a fine of up to 50,000 baht, or both.
The Department reaffirmed its commitment to strict law enforcement to prevent similar incidents in the future. It also urged owners of dangerous animals to acknowledge both their legal and moral responsibilities, emphasizing that all wild creatures possess inherent predatory instincts. The Department warned that any harm done to another person’s life or property would result in severe legal penalties, which would be enforced without exception.
The preceding is a PR release by the National Thai News Bureau.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
