DSI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, repatriated “4 species of lemurs and tortoises” totaling over 900 lives to Madagascar

DSI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, repatriated “4 species of lemurs and tortoises” totaling over 900 lives to Madagascar

On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at 10:00 AM, Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI); Police Captain Thinavudth Silapat, Director of the Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime Bureau; and officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Bureau attended a ceremony to repatriate confiscated wildlife to the Republic of Madagascar. The event was presided over by His Excellency Dr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, with His Excellency Mr. Max Andonirina FONTAINE, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Madagascar, serving as the official recipient. The ceremony was held in the Saksit Tridech Meeting Room on the 2nd floor of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The ceremony, organized by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, involved the repatriation of the following confiscated wildlife: 16 ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), 31 brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus), 759 spider tortoises (Pyxis arachnoides), and 155 radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata), totaling 961 animals. These animals were handed over to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation following an operation by the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) in Chumphon Province on May 1, 2024. The operation marked the largest wildlife seizure in Thailand's history, involving 1,109 live animals and 8 carcasses, amounting to a total of 1,117 live/dead wildlife.

This case began on June 7, 2024, when the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Madagascar visited Thailand and paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Justice, which aimed to discuss the return of confiscated wildlife, inspect the seized animals, and coordinate with Thai authorities to expedite evidence collection and the repatriation process. Subsequently, the committee responsible for managing confiscated wildlife, carcasses, or associated products agreed to return live animals to Madagascar, while carcasses were designated for destruction. However, as the case was classified as a transnational wildlife crime, the NED transferred it to the DSI. Since legal proceedings are still ongoing, the DSI, in collaboration with the Bangphra Waterbird Breeding Center, collected biological samples from the confiscated wildlife to be used as evidence. The animals were then transferred to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation for consideration of repatriation before the case is concluded. In addition, due to the substantial volume of animals, transportation will be conducted in three phases, starting the first phase on November 28, 2024. The DSI will continue investigating those involved in smuggling the wildlife.