PUBLISHED : 23 Dec 2025 at 11:31
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One of the two lions found in cages inside the now-abandoned Cambodian casino opposite the Thai Trat border. (Photo: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation)
Five emaciated animals, two lions and three bears, were found abandoned in cages when Thai marines inspected a captured casino building immediately across the border from Trat province.
Thai wildlife officials were mounting an operation to rescue and care for the animals.
The Trat Marine Task Force reported the find on Sunday after its soldiers inspected the now deserted casino building on the Cambodian side of the border, opposite Ban Tha Sen of tambon Laem Klat in Muang district.
There were a pair of lions, two Asiatic black bears and one sun bear. All were locked in cages and were severely emaciated, their ribs visible, due to lack of food for a long time, the task force reported.(continues below)
Two of the bears found caged inside the deserted Cambodian casino, just across the border from Thailand’s Trat province. (Photo: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation)
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation sent a veterinary team to the site on Monday to assess the animals’ condition and arrange for their immediate relocation to better quarters.
The move was made difficult by the animals’ weak condition. Using tranquilisers would pose a high risk of heart failure, director-general Atthapol Charoenchansa said.
The rescue operation was continuing on Tuesday.
The plan was to move the bears to Bang Lamung Wildlife Breeding Centre in Chon Buri and the lions to Khao Zon Wildlife Breeding Centre in Ratchaburi, Mr Atthapol said.
Thai wildlife officials inspect the casino site where five large animals, lions and bears, were found abandoned in cages. (Photo: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation)
