Herd of rare wild banteng spotted
SA KAEO: A herd of banteng, an endangered species of wild cattle, was sighted at Pang Sida National Park in Ta Phraya district of this eastern province on Monday.
Booncherd Charoensuk, chief of the national park, said four to five male and female banteng were spotted drinking water at Huai Saton stream in the park. Camera traps have now been installed at several spots in the forest to observe the protected animals and help prevent illegal poaching.
The sighting of the banteng indicates a healthy forest environment in the national park, Mr Booncherd said, adding nearby local communities have been encouraged to support efforts to protect wildlife and forests from harm.
Drug arrests net 250,000 pills
narcotics: Police yesterday announced the arrest of two drug suspects and the seizure of some 250,000 speed pills at the Provincial Police Region 8's headquarters in Phuket.
The two men identified as Manasae Tobu, 40, and Hama Lasae, 40, were arrested at Ton Palm Resort Hotel in Klong Thom district of Krabi about 2.30am on Monday after police received a tip-off that drugs would be delivered there. Police spotted a suspicious-looking car driving into the hotel and the two men checked into a hotel room. Police then raided the room and found three sacks containing some 250,000 methamphetamine pills. Mr Manasae, from Yala, allegedly told police he was paid 100,000 baht by a man named Adulloh Damae, also a Yala native, to drive to Krabi to receive the drugs. The pairs were charged with possession of illicit drugs.
New app saves on paperwork
TECHNOLOGY: More than 60,000 state agency offices and building, including Government House, have implemented a new a mobile application, called CITIZEN info, in order to modernise the bureaucratic system and make life easier for the public.
The application was launched yesterday under the government's project remove the need for people to present their ID cards, or make copies, when visiting state agencies.
The project is part of the government's measures to push Thailand towards becoming a digital economy. However, only the need for copies of ID was officially revoked yesterday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday the project, which will officially kick off in August, was a new chapter of bureaucratic reform in compliance with the government's Thailand 4.0 strategy.
Indian nabbed for sex with teen girl
CRIME: Police have arrested an Indian man for paying for sex with a 14-year-old girl in Pattaya, Chon Buri. They have also detained a 17-year-old accused of procuring the girl.
Pol Maj Gen Kornchai Khlaykhlueng, chief of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, said the 14-year-old was persuaded on Facebook to provide sexual services in Pattaya after falling victim to agents of a human-trafficking network, he said.
The Indian man, identified as Parmod Kumar, will also be charged with supporting human trafficking, he added. Further investigation will be carried out to determine whether the gang lured any other girls or women into prostitution, he said.
Ivory demand driven by 'status'
WILDLIFE: Although relatively limited, the demand for ivory and tiger products in Thailand is largely driven by affluent, established business owners and merchants who believe purchasing wildlife products can bring good fortune and status, according to a new consumer research and demand reduction report released yesterday.
Commissioned by the USAID Wildlife Asia project, the Quantitative and Qualitative Study of Consumer Demand for Wildlife Products in Thailand also found that traditional beliefs regarding the protective and prestige-enhancement benefits of ivory and tiger parts entice Thais to buy them.
"By targeting current and potential consumers, we can implement more effective messaging and campaigns based on what motivates and drives their desire for ivory and tiger parts and help put an end to the trade in illegal wildlife," said Richard Goughnour, Director of USAID's Regional Development Mission for Asia.
