TRAT – Thai marines made a grim discovery this week after finding five badly underfed wild animals, two lions and three bears, left behind in metal cages inside an empty casino building on the Cambodian side of the border, opposite Ban Tha Sen in Thailand’s Trat province.
The animals, a male and female lion, two Asiatic black bears, and a sun bear, were spotted during a security search of the Thmor Dar Casino complex on 22 December. The Trat Marine Special Task Force had secured the compound after recent border clashes intensified.
Images shared by officials show how severe the neglect was. The animals’ ribs stand out, their coats look dirty and tangled, and their bodies appear weak from long periods without food. Authorities believe they went without food and water for days, and possibly weeks, after staff fled the area during the fighting.
“It was hard to look at,” said one marine involved in the operation, who asked not to be named. “They’re strong animals, but they were down to skin and bone, pacing and snapping from stress.”
Signs of long-term neglect and cruelty
Wildlife specialists say the conditions point to clear cruelty. The casino, reportedly tied to Chinese operators and recently used as a Cambodian military position, appears to have kept the animals as displays or status symbols, a practice often seen in some border gambling hubs, even though it is illegal.
The lions and bears were confined in small, rusted cages with no proper shelter, vet care, or steady feed. Marines first gave emergency food and water by throwing it into the cages, as getting too close risked bites or attacks from frightened, agitated animals.
“This goes beyond carelessness, it’s abuse,” said Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). “Wild animals belong in protected habitats, not locked up for show in places like this.”
The case also draws attention to the darker links around some border casinos, including illegal wildlife trade. Exotic animals are often trafficked and kept on site to impress guests and attract big spenders.
Rescue team steps in fast
On Monday, 23 December, the DNP sent a specialist veterinary team to assess the animals and plan their urgent removal.
Working with more than 20 marines and wildlife officers, vets checked vital signs, gave vitamins, and started stabilising the animals. Heavy cages were moved out with specialist equipment. The operation took place under tight security, with fears of landmines still in the area.
The bears were taken to the Bang Lamung Wildlife Breeding Centre in Chon Buri for recovery. The lions were moved to the Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Centre in Ratchaburi. Vets say all five are in critical but stable condition, and they are responding to fluids and careful feeding.
“We had no time to waste,” Mr Atthapol said. “They were close to collapse. Now we’re focused on getting them stable and giving them the long-term care they need.”
Rescue unfolds during fresh border fighting
The animals were found as fighting between Thailand and Cambodia flared again, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and leaving dozens dead since violence rose earlier this month.
The Thmor Dar Casino was one of several border casino complexes caught up in Thai military action, with claims they were being used as Cambodian command posts. Air strikes and artillery exchanges have pushed tensions higher, with both sides accusing the other of breaking earlier ceasefire arrangements.
ASEAN foreign ministers met for emergency talks in Kuala Lumpur on 22 December, as more clashes were reported. There were also signs of movement, with plans for bilateral defence meetings on 24 December to discuss bringing back a ceasefire agreed earlier this year.
Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, has called for restraint, while outside mediators continue to press for calm. This rescue, in its own way, shows another cost of conflict, as animals left behind become victims too.
Wildlife groups hope the incident will add pressure for stronger cross-border action against illegal animal trafficking, even as talks continue to restore peace.
