KANCHANABURI, THAILAND – A cross-border tiger handover near Myanmar triggered fierce dispute and allegations of wildlife trafficking.
Rebel raid on scam base uncovered tigers
The Karen National Liberation Army (KNU) reportedly stormed a base of a call-centre scam gang in Myanmar, where fighters said they found two tigers. According to their account, one animal had allegedly already been eaten by the scammers, while the surviving young female was taken by the rebels on 17 December to the Thai frontier near Sangkhla Buri. Unable to care for the animal, they contacted the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) for assistance.
Charity negotiated handover on military site
Dutch WFFT founder Edwin Wiek rushed to the border area with his team and, for safety and legal reasons, requested that the tiger be handed over not directly at the border but on a nearby military compound. He said he had instructed his staff not to cross the border and noted that the KNU fighters had no documentation for the animal. Wiek immediately called in officials from the Department of National Parks (DNP) so the case could be handled in line with Thai law, after which the militiamen quickly left the scene.
Retired official alleged illegal border transfer
The operation later drew harsh criticism from retired parks official Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, who posted an angry message on Facebook. He claimed the tiger had been brought illegally from Myanmar into Thailand and alleged that a foreign animal welfare activist and DNP staff were involved.
“No immediate legal action was taken against members of the foundation or other people involved,”
said Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, retired National Parks official.
Wiek rejected accusations as unfounded
Edwin Wiek acknowledged that he was the foreigner referenced in the accusations but firmly denied any wrongdoing.
“Neither I nor my foundation have violated Thai laws,”
said Edwin Wiek, founder of WFFT. He stated he was fully aware of Thailand’s strict wildlife protection rules and described his role as purely humanitarian, focused on saving an injured animal in distress, with cooperation with authorities planned from the outset.
Police investigation and DNA test launched
Despite his explanation, the National Parks Department filed a formal complaint with police in Sangkhla Buri, and the case entered official investigation. The tiger, described as a roughly four-year-old female weighing about 29 kilograms, was transferred to the Wildlife Forensic Science Centre. There, a DNA test was expected to determine the species and geographic origin of the animal, results that could prove critical for clarifying possible wildlife crime.
Case tests credibility and cross-border rules
The dispute highlighted the legal grey areas and risks of cross-border animal rescues in conflict zones. For WFFT, the controversy posed a challenge to its credibility and operations. For Thai authorities, the case became a test of how to handle opaque incidents at the frontier, with the full truth about the tiger’s journey still unresolved.