Zoological chief killed amid wildlife probe

SONGKHLA: The head of Thailand’s state zoological agency has been shot dead while investigating the suspicious disappearance of rare animals from a zoo in a southern province.

Directorgeneral of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand Suriya Saengpong was shot several times in the offices of the Songkhla Zoo on Saturday, Police Captain Komalpan

Srithep said.

The suspected gunman, a senior official at the zoo, fled the scene and took his own life in his living quarters, he said.

The motive for the killings was not immediately clear, but

Srithep said the suspect was one of four senior zoo officials being investigated.

Animals missing from Songkhla Zoo became headline news in Thailand this past week when leaked documents showed that

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpaarcha was dissatisfied with an initial probe into the disappearance of a rare albino barking deer from there in February.

Online site Isra News, which published the leaked documents, said there were suspicions that the missing deer and other animals were sold to, or stolen by, wildlife traffickers.

Varawut then ordered a new investigation, which Suriya travelled to Songkhla to launch on Saturday.

The illegal trade in wildlife generates about $US25 billion ($NZ37.6 billion) in criminal income each year, according to international conservation group Traffic.

It is believed to be the world’s fourth most lucrative criminal activity after trafficking in drugs, humans and arms.