Tiger poisoning sparks fury

A private organisation has filed a complaint involving the poisoning of a Siberian tiger at Ubon Ratchathani zoo in April last year.

Srisuwan Chanya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association, demanded an investigation into the tiger’s death and that punishment be meted out to the head of Ubon Ratchathani zoo, as well as the director of the Zoological Park Organisation and members of its committee.

The letter was submitted to the prime minister, who directly supervises the two bodies.

The tiger, whose name was “Cracker”, died after eating food laced with carbofuran on April 13 last year. Carbofuran is one of the most toxic of pesticides.

“The zoo and Zoological Park Organisation did not release any news on this. On the contrary, they tried to cover it up,” claimed Mr Srisuwan.

It was not until six days later, or April 19, that the zoo sent samples and organs of the animal for a biopsy at a provincial medical science unit. The unit later revealed the animal had been poisoned with carbofuran.

“Its death was significant because the breed is an endangered species under the 2008 IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature] Red List of Threatened Species. However, the chiefs of the two organisations have failed to take action or investigate the death,” he said.

Since tiger skins, carcasses and organs are much sought after for decorative purposes and unproven aphrodisiac properties, it is not unthinkable that some officials might have been hired to kill the big cat and smuggle out the carcass or organs, he added.

The death of Cracker, bought using taxpayers’ money, demonstrates lax supervision by the chiefs and committee members of the agencies, Mr Srisuwan said.

Muang Ubon Ratchathani police told reporters yesterday that veterinarian Wanchai Tanwattana, the zoo’s chief, had sent an official to report to police on April 27 that one or more thieves had stolen the skin of the dead tiger.

A police team set up to look into the facts identified the suspects as Prawit Thongbai, 27, and Vichai Taethaisong, 39, the tiger’s keepers who allegedly mixed Furadan, a commercial name for carbofuran, in its food.