TAK,Thailand — On April 9, the police and Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation rescued a 7-month-old black leopard in a planned sting operation in a shopping mall parking area in Mae Sot district, Tak Province.
They arrested two Myanmar nationals, identified as Mr. Saw and Ms. Khin, and seized the 7-month-old black leopard that was allegedly being transported for illegal export.
The operation was coordinated by Thailand’s Central Investigation Police, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Officials set up a controlled delivery after receiving a tip about a protected wild animal being shipped through a private transport company in Bangkok.
Initial intelligence showed the shipment described the animal simply as a “cat.” But upon inspection, investigators discovered it was a young black leopard, a protected and rare species.
Suspects Denied Smuggling Claims
The trafficking was believed to be organized by a criminal network linked across Southeast Asia, including contacts in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Communication was reportedly handled through social media channels.
Authorities arranged a meet-up on April 8 at the mall parking lot, where the suspects arrived in a foreign-registered vehicle to collect a cage. Officials immediately moved in and made the arrest, seizing the vehicle and mobile phones as evidence.
At the scene, both suspects denied wrongdoing, claiming they believed the animal was a “black cat” and said they were hired to transport it to a contact in Myawaddy, Myanmar, for 25,000 baht. Police said they did not find this explanation credible, given the complexity of the trafficking network and the seriousness of the offense.
They are being charged with possession of a protected wildlife species without permission under Thailand’s Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019. Investigators are working to identify and arrest others involved in the network, both at the origin and destination points.
Officials from the Department of National Parks noted the leopard was unusually calm, suggesting it had been raised by humans. That means it cannot be released back into the wild. Instead, it will remain at the Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Breeding Center in Ratchaburi Province for the rest of its life.
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation authorities also noted that, ecologically, a single black leopard can be valued at around 4 million baht because of its role as a top predator helping maintain forest balance.
Black leopardsin Thailand
Black leopardsin Thailand mark a rare, dark version of the critically endangered Indochinese leopard ( Panthera pardus delacouri ). Folks call them “black panthers” too. A gene mutation boosts dark pigment. Still, rosette spots show up faintly in good light.
These shy predators stick to thick tropical woods. For example, they roam Kaeng Krachan National Park , a UNESCO site. Tourists recently snapped photos of them on paths, and trail cams caught some with cubs. Sightings pop up in Khlong Lan and Kui Buri parks as well.
Thailand keeps one of the few solid homes for this group. Counts put Indochinese leopards at 77 to 800. Black types show more often here. They hide better in shady brush, after all.
Poaching, shrinking forests, and traps put them at risk. That’s why laws shield them completely. Daylight glimpses wow park visitors. They also highlight the big push needed to protect Thailand’s western woods.
