A female red panda rescued from suspected international wildlife traffickers has been transferred to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri for medical assessment and rehabilitation.
Police seized the five-year-old red panda on Saturday after finding it concealed inside a pickup truck they had stopped near the Myanmar border in Mae Sot district in Tak province.
The red panda, weighing approximately 5kg, was handed over on Tuesday morning to the zoo’s veterinary team and wildlife specialists by staff from Protected Area Regional Office 14 of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Authorities at the Mae Sot Wildlife Checkpoint had conducted preliminary health checks and implanted a microchip with an identification number before the transfer. (Story continues below)
A wildlife officer feeds the female red panda. (Photo: Apinya Wipatayotin)
Red pandas are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which provides the highest level of protection against international commercial trade.
Panatchakorn Photiphanthit, director of Protected Area Regional Office 14, said the red panda — also known as a bear cat or lesser panda — requires specialised veterinary care, nutrition and suitable living conditions, with stress management also essential to its recovery.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo will place the animal in quarantine for further health assessments and prepare an environment suited to its natural behaviour to minimise stress and support its adjustment.
Police and other agencies are continuing their investigation to identify those behind the suspected trafficking operation and trace any associated networks.
Two suspects were arrested after the search of their pickup in Mae Sot, as they could not show documents authorising them to keep the red panda. They were taken to the Mae Sot police station and charged with illegal possession of protected wildlife.
Offenders face maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and/or a 1-million-baht fine.
The red panda with wildlife authorities and Khao Kheow Open Zoo staff. (Photo: Apinya Wipatayotin)