Thai Held over Parrot Eggs Haul in South Africa
Several eggs have hatched and the chicks are receiving intensive care as investigators probe a suspected wildlife trafficking network.
- On Thursday, authorities at OR Tambo International Airport arrested a 50-year-old Thai national for allegedly attempting to smuggle 50 suspected endangered parrot eggs out of South Africa in a "homemade incubator bag" carried as hand luggage.
- The arrest follows a similar July incident when authorities detained a 23-year-old Thai national at the same airport with 418 parrot eggs; these cases highlight the growing sophistication of transnational wildlife trafficking networks.
- Many of the rescued eggs have successfully hatched, with chicks now receiving "intensive" care from National Zoological Garden staff in Pretoria to "maximise their chances of survival," the DFFE added.
- If convicted, the suspect faces up to 10 years in prison or a R10 million fine. Environment Minister David Maynier stated, "illegal wildlife trafficking can only be challenged by a co-ordinated defence of our natural heritage."
- To combat these threats, South Africa adopted a strategy six years ago to strengthen collaboration across government and law enforcement. Wildlife trafficking remains a major concern as the country's biodiversity makes it a frequent target.
17 Articles
17 Articles
South Africa: Thai National Arrested At or Tambo With 50 Suspected Parrot Eggs
[SAnews.gov.za] A 50-year-old Thai national has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle 50 parrot eggs out of South Africa in a homemade incubator bag.
The eggs were hidden in the luggage in self-built hatching devices. Several of the confiscated eggs have now hatched in a zoo.
Thai Man Busted At OR Tambo With 50 Parrot Egg In Homemade Incubator
[Image: Needpix] A 50-year-old Thai national has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after officials allegedly found 50 bird eggs hidden inside a homemade incubator carried as hand luggage, marking the second such bust at the Johannesburg airport in just over a month. The arrest, made on 20 August, followed a joint operation involving the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Green Scorpions, along with several Sout…
South African authorities have arrested two Thai citizens on different occasions suspected of trying to smuggle eggs from parrots of endangered species at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. In the most recent case, 50 eggs were found last Thursday (20) in an improvised incubator inside a hand baggage. Part of them have hatched, and the cubs receive intensive veterinary care.
A Thai national was arrested at an airport in South Africa on charges of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of parrot eggs into the country. This is the second Thai national in less than two months to be arrested at the same airport for the same offense.
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