Man arrested after protected slow loris seized in Phuket photo tout case

A man was arrested in Phuket on April 27 after officers found him carrying a protected slow loris and allegedly offering paid photo opportunities in Karon. The arrest followed complaints that protected wildlife was being used for tourist pictures, prompting a joint inspection by officers from the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area, Karon Police, local officials and Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee.

Officials found the suspect with one slow loris, known in Thai as a nang ai. They also seized a shoulder bag, a metal hook tool and two knives.

Suspect accused of resisting arrest and wildlife offence

Officials said the man tried to attack officers as they moved in to arrest him. He was restrained and taken into custody.

He faces a charge of possessing protected wildlife without permission under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Acts of 2019 and 1992. Authorities said the offence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to 500,000 baht, or both.

Slow loris sent for rehabilitation after seizure

Thairath reported that the rescued animal was sent to the Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Centre for rehabilitation before release back into the wild. Officials described the case as part of wider enforcement against illegal wildlife possession.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare says slow lorises are protected nocturnal primates found across South and Southeast Asia. Wildlife groups have long warned that the species is frequently exploited in illegal photo schemes because of its small size and distinctive appearance.

In an earlier Phuket case, officials were searching for a man accused of charging tourists 200 to 300 baht for photos with a slow loris at a beach.

Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-man-arrested-slow-loris-photo-scheme