White Lion Cub Rescued from Illegal Chiang Mai Hotel; Chinese National Detained

CHIANG MAI — A Chinese national has been detained after authorities found a 2-3-month-old white lion cub allegedly being kept illegally at an unlicensed hotel in Chiang Mai. The discovery stemmed from complaints by local residents about loud roaring noises emanating from the building. The raid, conducted around 3 PM on September 18, involved officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED), Chiang Mai district officials, and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation’s Protected Area Administration Office 16. Local residents had reported hearing the noises since September 5, expressing concerns about a potentially dangerous animal. During the search of a building on Charoensuk Road in the Chang Phueak subdistrict of Mueang Chiang Mai district, investigators discovered the white lion cub on the second floor. Photographs depicting the lion's growth from a young age were also found. A 40-year-old Chinese woman, identified as Wang, who claimed to be the building's housekeeper, stated that the lion had been kept there since it was young. Officials from Protected Area Administration Office 16 examined the cub and confirmed it lacked a microchip and that no permit had been issued for its keeping. As the woman could not produce documents proving legal ownership, the animal was seized for further examination. Authorities also revealed that the building had been renovated and converted into tourist accommodation, reportedly catering exclusively to Chinese visitors. Nattakorn Chum-intharachak, deputy district chief of Mueang Chiang Mai, noted that the property had previously applied for hotel registration but was not approved. Despite this, it allegedly continued to operate as an unlicensed hotel. Wang was taken to Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station to face legal proceedings on charges of possessing protected wildlife without permission and operating a hotel without a license. Officials stated they would also investigate alleged financiers behind the operation and any Thai nationals involved in acquiring the building. The post White lion cub seized from illegal hotel in Chiang Mai appeared first on Khaosod English.