The suspects said they acquired carcasses online and used them to make talismans to sell
Officers are interrogating Phatcharapha Prasongdee and her husband Sitthichai Boonlai at a house in Jorakhae Bua neighborhood of Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district after arresting them for illegal wildlife trafficking. (Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham)
A couple arrested with 19 animal skins and other items in Bangkok have admitted selling talismans made from the skins and oil of Asian golden cats online to customers with superstitious beliefs, police say.
On Friday, officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crimes Suppression Division apprehended Phatcharapha Prasongdee and her husband Sitthichai Boonlai, both 30, at a house in Jorakhae Bua district, by Lat Phrao.
Many Asian golden cat objects were seized from the house, including two foreheads, a tail, 19 skins of various sizes, six takrud nang sua (tiger skin talismans) and 16 bottles of tiger oil, Major General Watcharin Phusit, the division commander, said on Saturday.
The arrests came after police began investigating a Facebook page selling carcasses and other parts of Asian golden cats, which are protected wildlife.
Investigators tracked down the page’s administrators at a house in Lat Phrao district. On January 16, they obtained arrest warrants from the criminal court for illegal trade in wildlife and possession of carcasses of protected animals.
During questioning, the suspects admitted to selling the items to people with superstitious beliefs who believe tigers are powerful. Some believe that possessing talismans made from tiger parts can help improve personal fortune, ward off evil spirits, and improve health or sexual performance.
The couple said they bought carcasses of protected species online. After receiving the carcasses, they would cut them into pieces based on customer purchase orders.
The foreheads were sold between 2,600 and 2,800 baht each while the prices for the skins varied between 200 and 1,000 baht each depending on the size. Tails were priced at 400 baht. Talismans made from skin and fur were sold at 300 baht each and the oil at 199 baht a bottle.
The suspects are in custody for further prosecution.
Part of the skin of an Asian golden cat is among many items seized from the suspects’ homes. (Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham)
Takroud nang sua or tiger skin talismans are popular among people with superstitious beliefs. The talismans and other items made from the body parts of Asian golden cats were seized from a house in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district. (Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham)
Tiger oil is considered by some to have medicinal value. (Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham)