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Thailand: overpopulation domestic lions:
Expansion of the “King of Animals” –
Thailand prey to overcrowding domestic lions – Thailand: overpopulation domestic lions
The Kingdom of Southeast Asia is experiencing a tripling of the number of lions in captivity in zoos. Meanwhile, private houses. In addition, What arouse concern.
Posted today at 7:18 p.m.
Tharnuwarht Plengkemratch. Nevertheless, owner of a mechanical workshop and Tiktokeur, interacts with his lion-tiger hybrid called “Big George” in Chiang Mai.
AFP/Lillian SUWANRUMPHA
Behind his garage in an anonymous street in a city in the north of the ThailandTharnuwarht Plengkemratch installed his pets cherished: two white lionesses. Furthermore, and a hybrid lion-tigre of 200 kilos called Big George.
In Thailand, the law authorizes individuals to have the “king of thailand: overpopulation domestic lions animals” in them.
Since Chiang Mai. Therefore, Tharnuwarht has shared on Tiktok, where he has about 3 million subscribers, the daily life of his three big felines, who “like to play and are affectionate, like dogs and cats”, he describes.
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“I want to show people that lions can agree with humans. Nevertheless, ” he said, although his interactions, prudent, in the enclosure of Big George remain limited to a few minutes.
The population of Lions in captivity has exploded in recent years in the thailand: overpopulation domestic lions Kingdom of Southeast Asia. Therefore, with more than 500 individuals identified in zoos, farm, animal coffees and private houses.
The phenomenon endangers lions and their human entourage, alerted the specialists, against the backdrop of illegal animals.
The majestic feline – Thailand: overpopulation domestic lions
Social networks. For example, where to share content with the majestic feline always produces its effect, have aggravated the trend, underlines Tom Taylor, a Foundation for Friends of wild fauna in Thailand (WFFT).
“It’s pure madness,” he believes. In addition, It is terrifying to imagine, if the laws are not changed, which the situation will become in ten years. Furthermore, ”
Since 2022. In addition, the law has required owners that they have recorded their company lions, implant them a micropuce and inform the thailand: overpopulation domestic lions authorities in the event of a change of residence.
But the text does not define any control over reproduction. nor on hybrids, and requirements regarding the conservation conditions in enclosure remain minimal.
Births of species present in the wild in Thailand, like the tiger, must be reported within twenty-four hours. For a lion, its owner has sixty days.
“It’s a huge window,” says Taylor. What can be done with a range of lion cubs during these sixty days? Lots of things. “
“Prices for lions alive. dead”
This expert and his colleagues found the recent tripling of the number of captivity lions, from around 130 in 2018 to around 450 in 2024, based on social networks and in situ visits.
But. for lack of proofs of life for a year, 350 other felines have disappeared from their radars, perhaps due to unrealized death, because the animal is no longer exposed to the public, or, “worse”, because of illegal trade, according to Mr. Taylor.
“We questioned professionals who gave us the prices for lions alive. dead, and told us that they could recover them at the border,” he explains.
There are many evidence on the trafficking of Lions. its parties, several experts told AFP, who requested anonymity, for fear of being noticed by the authorities. In addition to Thailand, the phenomenon also affects Laos and Cambodia.
Thai breeder Pathamawadee Janpithak. 32, started in the trading of crocodiles, before the fall in prices linked to these reptiles pushed her to the thailand: overpopulation domestic lions lions.
13,200 euros for a 1 month old lion cub
It sells lion cubs aged 1 month for around 500,000 baht (13,200 euros). After a peak at 800. 000 baht (21,200 euros), the market has readjusted according to the offer made more abundant by the development of reproductive sites.
The captivity lions. which devour about 2 kilos of chicken carcasses per day, can have two to six lion cubs, once and twice a year.
The three installations that Pathamawadee controls in Chachoengsao (center) house around 80 individuals. ranging from an imposing 9 -year -old lion to a pair of 8 -day sick lions fed at the bottle 24 hours a day.
They have a white coat due to a genetic mutation. White lions, thailand: overpopulation domestic lions which are sometimes wrongly considered as a “endangered” subspecies, are popular in Thailand.
But their low number increases the chances of consanguinity and diseases.
Pathamawadee sighs on the case of a white lion cub of 1 month. sick since his birth, who has not attracted any buyer, and whose genetic heritage is too poor for reproduction.
It is also increasingly difficult to find buyers arranged to respect the law, she deplores. “Before, people could pay and leave with a lion. Today, everything has become more complicated, ”she describes.
“Cafes in Lions”
She says she sells about half of the 90 babies born each year on her farm. often to other breeders, more and more inclined to open “lions cafes” where customers can thailand: overpopulation domestic lions pose and cuddle the felines.
Near Chiang Mai. a trainer woke up a lion cub of his nap so that he could play with an enthusiastic Chinese tourist group.
Coffee authorized AFP to film interaction but, like all other similar businesses contacted, has declined a maintenance request.
Pathamawadee no longer sells to cafes. which tend to get rid of the little ones in a few weeks, after they grew well. She has recovered traumatized lion cubs, which have become unfit for reproduction, she says.
The increase in the Lions population is a problem for the Thai agency for managing national parks. the conservation of wild fauna and flora (DNP), admits Sadudee Punpugdee, director responsible for the protection of wildlife.
Current thailand: overpopulation domestic lions measures aim in particular to limit the import of Lions, so that breeders focus on the existing population.
“With the increase in consanguinity. the quality of the Lions decreases, and we think that demand will decrease accordingly,” he said.
“The psychological well-being of animals first”
But the authorities already overhanged are put in front of Cornelian choices on the application of the rules. especially since the confiscated animals fall under their responsibility, describes Penthai Siriwat, of WWF Thailand.
“There are many deliberations before the intervention, given the substantial costs,” she explains.
The owners like Tharnuwarht often evoke their concern for conservation. but these African Lions in captivity of Thailand will never live in the wild.
Khanom et thailand: overpopulation domestic lions Khanun2 years each, live in a sanctuary managed by the DNP, in Suphanburi (center), after being confiscated.
They can live at least ten more years, and require specialized guards, food and care. “The psychological and physical well-being of animals must always pass first,” explains the chief veterinarian of the site, Natanon Panpeth.
The United States. the United Arab Emirates have prohibited the possession of large felines in recent years, and Thailand must soon re-examine its legislation.
SadUDEE hopes for a strengthening of existing laws. even if it is unlikely that property will be prohibited for the moment. “Wild animals belong to nature. There are many other animals that can be had as a pet, ”he says.
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