Thread: Laos resort 'a lawless playground' for illegal wildlife trade

A Chinese-run resort complex in north-west Laos whose activities include offering parts of endangered species for eating - such as bear's paws and tiger meat - was slammed yesterday by an activist organisation which called on the country to crack down on the illegal market.

The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), in its report released yesterday, also called on the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) to impose trade suspensions on Laos, which theoretically had the power to crack down on the illegal trade in the complex but had done nothing.

The 24-page EIA report - the result of an investigation conducted jointly with Vietnam-based Education for Nature Vietnam - said the Golden Triangle special economic zone (SEZ) in Bokeo province, on the Mekong river bordering Thailand and Myanmar, has "effectively become a lawless playground".

The report details how captive tigers held in a facility in the zone - which is run by the Hong Kong-registered Kings Romans Group (KRG) or Dok Ngiew Kham in the Lao language - have increased in number.

The main feature of the resort complex, built on land leased by KRG for 99 years since 2007, is a massive casino.

A restaurant in the complex's "Chinatown section" was found by investigators to be openly offering bear's paws, monitor lizards, pangolins, Tokay gecko, snakes and turtles. The restaurant also had jars of what was claimed to be tiger bone wine.

"Investigators observed a live python and a bear cub kept in cages by the restaurant entrance and the kitchen exit, respectively - both of which were available to eat on request," the report said.

The investigators also found four tigers at the zone in the middle of last year, but the number had risen to 35 by last month.

Debbie Banks, the EIA's tiger campaigner, said in an interview: "In theory, Lao enforcement authorities could walk in and seize products, arrest people, file charges, and investigate the individuals and their connections." But while there had been repeated reports on the illegal activities in the zone - by The Straits Times itself in 2013, and by activist film-maker Karl Amman in 2014 - the Lao government had done nothing, she said.

Also, since the firm was run by Chinese, China would come under pressure to investigate links between traders at the SEZ and wildlife criminals operating between Laos, Myanmar and China.

"The blatant illegal wildlife trade by Chinese companies in this part of Laos should be a national embarrassment and yet it appears to enjoy high-level political support from the Laos government, blocking any potential law enforcement," the report said.

Efforts by The Straits Times to locate a contact at the KRG headquarters in Hong Kong failed. A request for the Lao government's response, faxed yesterday to its embassy in Bangkok, met with no response.

Laos resort 'a lawless playground' for illegal wildlife trade - Laos - The Straits Times

Bloody Chinks again!

Whilst i may not agree with the practice, as long as the animals are bred in captivity, I don't see the problem.

I see the caging of animals in Zoos etc for profit, more of a crime.

Originally Posted by Kurgen

Bloody Chinks again!

I would not be surprised if there was a link to Thailand as well. As an example, tourist attractions such as Tiger Kingdom and the Tiger Temple rely on having many young tigers on hand to satisfy the demands for cute photos with young animals.

What happens to those cute cubs as they grow older? If these attractions kept all the adults, I'm sure they'd soon be overrun.

They can't be easily released back to the wild either.

Originally Posted by ENT

They can't be easily released back to the wild either.

Tigers? It's almost impossible. Teaching one to hunt is long, arduous, and not always successful project. I think some Russians have pulled it off.

Odd, isn't it? The average domesticated (disputable, but bear with me) tabby cat that has spent its life being cared for has a better chance of surviving in the wild than even a leopard or ocelot, let alone a tiger, born in a zoo.

They also put snakes in bottles it seems

SNAKE WHISKEY FROM DON SAO ISLAND IN LAOS | BEST SELLER ON BUY-SNAKE-WINE.COM

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

I would not be surprised if there was a link to Thailand as well. As an example, tourist attractions such as Tiger Kingdom and the Tiger Temple rely on having many young tigers on hand to satisfy the demands for cute photos with young animals.

What happens to those cute cubs as they grow older? If these attractions kept all the adults, I'm sure they'd soon be overrun.

Excellent question, doubt if many die from old age, We're probably happier not knowing what happens to them since there's nothing we can do about it.

Anything here that involves animals and tourists is a sad combination.

Slightly off topic.

This law the Thais have made about dogs,just what were they thinking, the village were we live, is now becoming overun with dogs, the stupid PC bkk brigade have made a problem and there's no fix in sight.

They have not provided any additional services for spaying or castrating.

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

Slightly off topic.

This law the Thais have made about dogs,just what were they thinking, the village were we live, is now becoming overun with dogs, the stupid PC bkk brigade have made a problem and there's no fix in sight.

They have not provided any additional services for spaying or castrating.

DIY poisoned meat scraps work sufficiently.
No PC.

Be there done that....

Tigers worth money... police and government want their cut... simples.

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

Whilst i may not agree with the practice, as long as the animals are bred in captivity, I don't see the problem.

I see the caging of animals in Zoos etc for profit, more of a crime.

Say what again????
You see animals being kept in cages for profit a crime, but not with animals being kept and bred in cages for breeding and slaughter (for profit)?
Are You a complete fuckwit or just a halfwit?

Are monitor lizards, Tokay gecko and snakes endangered species? I wouldn't want to eat monitor lizards or Tokays myself but I don't see a problem with others eating them if the reptiles are not of an endangered species.

Koojo hope your a veggie or vegan, the majority of farm meats now are caged, your litre of milk is caged,and feed with growth hormones that are steroid based and have cancerous cells. who's the fukwit now.

Originally Posted by Koojo

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

Whilst i may not agree with the practice, as long as the animals are bred in captivity, I don't see the problem.

I see the caging of animals in Zoos etc for profit, more of a crime.

Say what again????
You see animals being kept in cages for profit a crime, but not with animals being kept and bred in cages for breeding and slaughter (for profit)?
Are You a complete fuckwit or just a halfwit?

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

Koojo hope your a veggie or vegan, the majority of farm meats now are caged, your litre of milk is caged,and feed with growth hormones that are steroid based and have cancerous cells. who's the fukwit now.

You apparently, illiterate as well it seems.

Yawn when you can't answer just go for insults typical ignorant people.

Go on give it a go and and show us your intelligence, and educate the masses

Originally Posted by Koojo

Are You a complete fuckwit or just a halfwit?

I think he's just a halfwit.

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

Be there done that....

Bullshit.

Lets put it another way for you, Zoos safari parks etc, they take the animals out of there habitat and cage them, which causes stress and mental ilness, many zoos such as BKK zoo don't even feed and house them properly.


The animals bred to be ate are fed well and have a limited time being caged before there demise.

You must try and have a conversation without trying to insult Darling it does make you look silly.

Originally Posted by Koojo

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

Whilst i may not agree with the practice, as long as the animals are bred in captivity, I don't see the problem.

I see the caging of animals in Zoos etc for profit, more of a crime.

Say what again????
You see animals being kept in cages for profit a crime, but not with animals being kept and bred in cages for breeding and slaughter (for profit)?
Are You a complete fuckwit or just a halfwit?

Let us have a look at another big cat market, it's press name is Canned hunting.
It started like this, some folks displayed Lion cubs to tourists ( Dollar) and Cubs are safe, like baby chimps, then the tourists are told that this was a lion rescue centre ( Charity)
The Cubs where orphans , lonely African orphans after a poacher had killed their mother.
They where brought to the rescue centre, and your donations will help them live in the wild again, just like the movie " Born Free"
When the Cubs grow bigger, they are replaced by a new set of Cubs , for tourists.
The bigger Cubs grow into adults, and are then released into the wild.
Only for a few hours, before a gun touting tourist shoots it for a Rick trophy.
That's canned shooting.
A tip on spotting a canned lion, they have loads of chest hair, a really wild Male lion, has his hair shaved by the rough Savannah.

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

The animals bred to be ate are fed well and have a limited time being caged before there demise.

You haven't got a fwkn clue!


Ever worked on a farm or in the meat industry blowhard?

NEVER.

Ent do you suffer from mango madness(gone Troppo)

I would hazard a guess that your ful ltime employment in CM is working on a cow farm, or maybe you've worked in Africa with the Zebu.

Please try and participate in a mature manner.

Sure your illness will getter better once the smoke and heat passes.