Wildlife academics welcome Supreme Court verdict in Premchai case
Academics have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a lower court’s sentencing of the previous boss of Italian-Thai Development. Premchai Karnasuta and 3 of his staff have been sentenced for the killing of protected wildlife in a Thai national park.
According to a Bangkok Post report, the development boss and his team got permission to enter the Thungyai Naresuan Sanctuary within the western province of Kanchanaburi after Premchai claimed he wanted to check the sanctuary’s wildlife. Instead, the group proceeded to hunt protected species, with the carcasses of several animals, including a black leopard, found at their camp web site. Premchai and 3 of his workers had been arrested on February four, 2018.
On March 19, 2019, Premchai received a jail time period of 2 years and 4 months, which was subsequently elevated to 2 years and 14 months by the Appeal Court, following a request from the Attorney General. The tycoon was additionally fined 2 million baht for poaching wildlife.
Academics and wildlife consultants have welcomed the decision, with Naris Bhumpakphan from the Faculty of Forestry at Kasetsart University saying it sets a model new precedent for wildlife crimes.
ติดตั้งโซล่าเซลล์บ้าน from the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation says the case has raised vital awareness about the necessity to shield wildlife. He provides that, while progress is being made, forest encroachment still occurs in protected areas.
“We have to see correct administration to reduce dangerous contact between man and wildlife sooner or later. It is one other difficult job to save tons of the wild.”
However, Panudet says residents understand the importance of conservation and native communities have welcomed the verdict within the Premchai case.
Meanwhile, Sompoj Maneerat, a former spokesman for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, says the verdict has given a lift to forest officers whose mission it is to protect the country’s wildlife and habitats..