Chumphon Station Cat Search Intensifies with Advanced Gear

CHUMPHON — The search for "Si Som," a disabled cat that went missing during a train journey, entered its sixteenth day on July 15, with volunteers deploying specialized equipment around Chumphon railway station to locate the feline. Public donations and support from Si Som's family have funded advanced search tools, including thermal drones and infrared cameras, which are now being utilized by the leading rescue team, The Hope Thailand. According to an update from the rescue page "The Last Home of Stray Animals," the specialized search equipment, including a thermal imaging camera, a snake inspection camera for confined spaces, and high-capacity backup batteries, was purchased using public donations and funds from Si Som’s family. These resources were handed over to The Hope Thailand, whose team is leading the operation. The team initially acquired a thermal imaging camera for 48,000 baht, a discounted price from its usual 50,000 baht, after the retailer learned about the search effort. Volunteers also obtained a 3,500-baht inspection camera and backup batteries to ensure surveillance cameras could operate in areas without electricity. Later, a fundraising campaign was launched to purchase a thermal drone. However, an anonymous donor covered the entire cost of 272,365 baht, allowing the equipment to be deployed sooner than anticipated. The current search operation includes K-9 search dogs, a thermal imaging drone, infrared thermal cameras, snake inspection cameras for narrow spaces, ground search teams, multiple CCTV cameras, and humane cat traps. Fresh paw prints discovered Petch from "The Last Home of Stray Animals" reported that volunteers found fresh cat paw prints and rodent tracks near one of the station platforms after arriving in Chumphon. The area is close to potential food and water sources and is scheduled for further searches during the night. The Hope Thailand stated that night-time operations offer the best chance of locating the missing cat because the surroundings are quieter and frightened cats tend to become more active after dark. Sandy, a K-9 search dog assisting the operation, searched beneath a nearby bridge but detected only a faint scent, which volunteers believe was likely weakened by persistent rainfall. The search team has since split into two groups: one using thermal imaging equipment beneath the bridge, and another inspecting the underside of the railway platforms. Volunteers also plan to install a total of nine CCTV cameras covering both sides of the station platforms and place additional humane traps at key locations. The Hope Thailand added that the search area is extensive and complex. Even though Sandy could not establish a strong scent trail, that does not necessarily mean Si Som has left the area, as heavy rain may have washed away scent traces. Cats are also capable of crossing railway tracks and moving through narrow spaces beneath platforms. Volunteers continued searching quietly throughout the night using infrared cameras, which are most effective after dark because they detect body heat. Volunteers urge public not to enter railway tracks The Hope Thailand stressed that every search beneath the platforms has been carried out with permission from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and only after confirming train schedules to ensure safety. The page also urged the public not to enter railway tracks on their own, warning that doing so could be both illegal and dangerous while potentially disrupting the ongoing search operation. Search driven by public support Much of the equipment and operational costs have been funded through donations from members of the public, supporters, and volunteer organizations, including thermal cameras, drones, CCTV systems, inspection cameras, and other field equipment. Meanwhile, some social media users have called on the State Railway of Thailand to play a greater role in supporting the search operation, arguing that most of the specialized equipment and funding used so far have come from volunteers, donors, and the public. As of publication, the SRT had not publicly responded to those calls or announced any additional support for the operation.