Thai authorities have rescued five wild animals after discovering them caged inside the Thmor Dar Casino complex in Cambodia during a security operation along the Trat border, according to reports from The Nation. The rescue followed an improvement in regional tensions, enabling the Trat Marine Special Task Force to enter and clear the casino area on Monday.
During their inspection, officers found a male lion, a female lion, two male Asiatic black bears, and a sun bear held in confinement. Officials said the animals appeared to have been abandoned as the casino area was emptied during recent unrest. The task force immediately coordinated with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to begin an emergency extraction.
Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the DNP, described the animals' condition as critical. All five were emaciated, with ribs visible and clear signs of prolonged deprivation of food and water. After being notified by the military, he deployed wildlife veterinarians and rapid-response teams to assess the animals and stabilise them on site.
Officials said the operation had to be executed with extreme caution because the animals were too weak to safely undergo anesthesia. Veterinary teams supported the lions and bears with vitamins and continuous monitoring of their vital signs, while more than 20 soldiers and park officers worked together under tight time constraints to move the cages out of the border zone.
The transport convoy has since left the casino area. The three bears were taken to the Bang Lamung Wildlife Breeding Station in Chon Buri, while the pair of lions were transferred to the Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Station in Ratchaburi. Both facilities have been prepared with veterinary teams to begin full rehabilitation.
Authorities are now collecting evidence and tracing the animals' origins, with legal action expected under Thailand's wildlife conservation laws. Illegal wildlife possession and cross-border trafficking remain serious offenses, and officials emphasised that such activities will continue to be pursued rigorously.
Thailand's wildlife laws impose strict penalties for the possession, transport, and trade of protected species without authorization
