"Red Panda" and Snakes Found in Luggage... What’s Happening in Thailand!

This week, Thai customs officials at the country’s main airport discovered a red panda, snakes, monkeys, and chameleons in the luggage of six Indian nationals who were arrested for attempting to smuggle wildlife. Authorities stated that they apprehended the six individuals on Monday while they were heading to Mumbai. A total of 87 reptiles and mammals were found in the bags, including chameleons, snakes, a long-billed parrot, red-eyed squirrels, bats, and monkeys. Photos from customs at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok showed some of the animals wrapped in paper, while others were in plastic containers. Thailand, which shares borders with four countries, suffers from illegal wildlife trafficking, and customs officials often seize reptiles and small animals in luggage at Suvarnabhumi. There is a high demand for animal-derived products in countries like China, Myanmar, and Thailand, where they are used in traditional medicine or consumed directly.