Patong's Cute Creatures of the Night Set to Win Freedom

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By Sert Tongdee PHUKET: Police in Patong arrested two men last night and confiscated three southern lorises, being offered to tourists for photographs in and around the popular Soi Bangla walking street.

The round-eyed slow loris is reported to have an extremely high mortality rate in captivity and is on the list of endangered species.

Suchai Jalernphu, 30, and Natchapon Kensing, 20, were charged with possession of protected native animals.

While the two adults and a juvenile loris were exceedingly photogenic, horrified tourists are believed to have tipped off police to the presence of the nocturnal animals and their handlers in Soi Bangla.

The police stepped in and arrested the men about 8pm.

The lorises, native to Southeast Asia, were taken to the Gibbon Sanctuary in Bang Pae, eastern Phuket, where they will be checked to ensure they are healthy before release into the wild.

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Police should take a visit to Phuket Naka weekend night market and they can find them for sale along with a number of other animals that are supposed to be protected.

Posted by chrisT on July 9, 2012 11:57

"horrified tourists are believed to have tipped off police to the presence of the nocturnal animals and their handlers in Soi Bangla."
Ah, that explained a lot. But usually no hint needed, only a closer look at live CCTV footage! And a radio call to officers in the nightlife area.

Posted by ??? on July 9, 2012 12:31

ChrisT I was about to say the same.

I remember the Police said they would do something about this, so I am pleased they did. But the Police in Bangla is non-existent. They never patrol, so that's why it happens constantly.

Do we know what punishment these guys got? Probably a 500 baht fine...

Posted by Tbs on July 9, 2012 13:10

A picture at the top of the story would have been nice.

Posted by Buster on July 9, 2012 13:43

Well done to the Police, I wish people would stop being so negative about the Police, my experience of them has been very pleasant. I would also think that in Soi Bangla there are many plain clothed Police as there are in other tourist spots, I know some of them, so TBS take note.

Posted by FarangInPhuket on July 9, 2012 14:04

about time!!

Posted by another steve on July 9, 2012 14:04

Next on the list: Eagles at Karon View Point at daytime or Snakes and Lizards in Karon Beach at nighttime.

Posted by Fritz Pinguin on July 9, 2012 16:28

Police should now catch the chimpanzee dancing on the tables everynights soi Bangla, because they do not deserve that treatment ! (most of them been emasculated)

Posted by oulala on July 9, 2012 17:38

@ FarangInPhuket

Sure they are pleasant, friendly and nice, as long as they don't have to do anything, unless there's a payoff looming.

The real question here is why do the tourists need to file complaints about an issue the police can see every day walking up and down bangla before they actually do something.

Yes, there are also plenty of plainclothes police sitting around in Bangla bars.

You can spot them by the fact that they usually drink tea or coffee. Not many male Thais doing that.

All the more reason to ask why they don't intervene unless compelled to.

Posted by Andrew on July 9, 2012 19:03

Thanks for the picture, Ed!

Posted by Buster on July 9, 2012 22:40