The case of the missing Albino Deer, and murder

[PeteC]

This has the making of a good TV drama. Unfortunately today it resulted in a murder and suicide. Read the below articles in sequence and we'll post updates as they develop.
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'Snake ate deer' tale has minister hissing

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... er-hissing

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister has demanded authorities clarify the status of a one-year-old albino barking deer that went missing from a zoo in Songkhla in February, after the zoo on Thursday said the creature had been eaten by a snake.....

Top zoo official slain in missing-deer case

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -deer-case

SONGKHLA: The head of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand (ZPOT) was shot dead on Saturday morning during a meeting called to investigate the unsolved disappearance of a rare albino barking deer.

The gunman, a senior veterinarian at the Songkhla Zoo, later shot himself to death in his living quarters inside the zoo compound in the southern province.......

[Spitfire]

Sounds like the vet was a serious nutjob. As for the two rare albino deer ... more than likely got sold via the wildlife trade to someone they couldn't say no to or the price paid was too high to reject. Pretty lame-ass liar explanation about a python sneaking in and eating it ... very convenient, haha. Can't trust any of this lot when it comes to the baht.

[PeteC]

Zoo chief killer 'upset over transfer' in deer probe

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... deer-probe

A transfer order to clear the way for an investigation into the disappearance of two barking deer was the motive for a veterinarian to slay the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand (ZPOT) chief, its board chairman Chaowalit Chukrchorn said on Sunday.

Mr Chaowalit went from Bangkok to Songkhla on Sunday to establish the reason for vet Phuwadol Suwanna to brutally gun down ZPOT director general Suriya Saengpong at the zoo office in Songkhla's Muang district.

His assessment was in line with an investigation by police, who believed after collecting evidence and talking to witnesses on Saturday that the transfer order had driven Phuwadol to gun down his boss.

Phuwadol, who was in charge of animal health research and conservation at the zoo, fired 19 rounds from a pistol at Suriya and then left the office to commit suicide in the residential area inside the zoo compound.

The tragedy took place as the organisation was probing the disappearances of two albino barking deer from the zoo in the southern province.

The first deer vanished in February last year and the second in September.

After looking at the evidence at the zoo in Songkhla on Sunday, the zoo board chairman said he was convinced the first deer was swallowed by a python which had slipped into the compound from the forest, the original explanation given. The reason for the disappearance of the second deer remained unclear, but the internal investigation could be wrapped up by Tuesday, he added.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa ordered the probe and demanded clear explanations for the deers' disappearance, which he suspected was linked to wildlife trafficking.

Songkhla Zoo chief Chalermvudh Kasetsomboon and Phuwadol were among officials in Songkhla to be transferred to Bangkok by the ZPOT director general to clear the way for the probe.

The ZPOT director general said the transfer, which takes effect on Monday, did not mean the two were suspected of wrongdoing.

He also said that police from the Natural Resoures and Environmental Crime Suppression Division could be brought if a link to illegal animal trafficking is established.

[PeteC]

Investigators narrow focus in zoos chief's murder case

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... urder-case

SONGKHLA: Police investigating the fatal shooting at Songkhla Zoo are focusing on five issues to establish a motive for the murder of the head of the Zoological Parks Organisation of Thailand (ZPOT).

Investigators from Provincial Police Region 1, Songkhla police, the Crime Suppression Division and the National Resources and Environmental Crime Division are all involved in the case.

Suriya Saengpong, director of the zoological parks organisation, was shot dead at Songkhla Zoo on Saturday by Phuwadol Suwanna, a senior veterinarian in charge of animal health research and conservation at the zoo.

Suriya was investigating the disappearance of two albino barking deer from the zoo - the first in February last year and the second in September.

Phuwadol and three other officials at the zoo were transferred pending the outcome of the investigation. Phuwadol killed himself in his living quarters inside the zoo grounds shortly after shooting Suriya.

Investigators have focused on five issues – the administration of Songkhla Zoo, a missing Macaw, a missing white rhino horn, the missing barking deer, and possible links with the illegal wildlife trade.

A member of the team said no matter of what the outcome of the zoo parks board's own inquiry, the police investigation would continue, to find out if the shooting had any link with the wildlife trade.

Investigators have learned was bad blood between Suriya and Phuwadol. The veterinarian had filed a complaint against the zoos chief in 2018 over construction of an ocean park. Suriya had allegedly tried to transfer Mr Phuwadol on several occasions.

This was one possible motive, an investigation source said.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation was also reported to be sending wildlife experts to investigate the disappearance of the two barking deer.