Officials are pursuing two hunters who escaped a raid in Kaeng Krachan National Park on Saturday, leaving the carcass of a protected serow at the scene.
Park chief Mana Permpoon said on Sunday authorities are attempting to trace and identify the two hunters from the evidence compiled at the site.
The move followed a raid at Huay Pha Noi deep inside the forest in Kaeng Krachan district of Phetchaburi province. Park rangers on patrol heard gunshots and after moving in the direction the sound came from, saw two hunters cutting an animal carcass into pieces.
Patrol squad leader Wasant Putthes said five dogs belonging to the suspects started barking as the officials approached, prompting the hunters to flee.
Officials found the head and four legs of a serow, together with other meat, left at the scene. They also found one shotgun, another home-made rifle and a number of bullets.
Mr Mana believed that the hunters were local people given the type of ammunition found during the raid.
Serow is one of the rare species found in the park. The fertile soil in the area where the raid took place has made it a prime location for hunters to prey on wildlife.
Two rifles are among evidence left by two hunters who escaped a raid in Kaeng Krachan National Park on Saturday. (Kaeng Krachan National Park photo)