The Dutch founder of the the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) denied animal trafficking accusation after the Karen National Liberation Army (KNU) handed over a tiger, which was seized from a scam gang in Myanmar, to the foundation in Kanchanaburi province on Wednesday, December 17.
The allegation was raised by retired national park official Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, who shared details of the case on his Facebook account yesterday, December 18. Chaiwat claimed that Thai officials and an animal rescue centre led by a foreign national were involved in the illegal transfer of a tiger in Sangkhla Buri district, Kanchanaburi.
According to Chaiwat, the foreigner he referred to was the founder of an animal rescue organisation based in Phetchaburi province. He alleged that the individual was present at the scene together with officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).
Chaiwat claimed the tiger was illegally transported from Myanmar into Thailand, but no immediate legal action was taken against the foundation members or others involved. He urged relevant government agencies to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
The Dutch founder of the WFFT, Edwin Wiek, later confirmed that he was the foreigner mentioned in Chaiwat’s post. However, he strongly denied any involvement in animal trafficking and insisted that neither he nor his foundation had violated Thai law.
According to Wiek, personnel from the KNU contacted the WFFT on December 16, informing them that a tiger cub required urgent assistance. The following day, December 17, KNU personnel brought the tiger to Sangkhla Buri district and asked the WFFT team to examine the animal.
Wiek said the original handover location was very close to the Thai-Myanmar border. Due to safety and legal concerns, he requested that the animal be moved to nearby army premises instead. At the new location, Wiek and his team examined the tiger and found it to be in good health.
According to the KNU, the tiger was seized during a raid on a call centre scam base in Myanmar. The armed group also claimed that there was another tiger at the site, but scam gang members allegedly consumed it before the raid. They were unable to care for the surviving animal and therefore sought help from the WFFT.
Wiek stated that he was fully aware of Thai laws governing the transfer of protected wildlife. He said he even instructed his staff not to cross the border as no official permission was granted.
However, the KNU personnel were unable to provide legal documentation for the animal, prompting Wiek to contact DNP officers to handle the case in accordance with Thai law.
He added that KNU personnel left the scene shortly after handing over the tiger, citing concerns about legal complications related to illegal border crossing.
Despite Wiek’s explanation, Channel 7 reported that the DNP filed a formal complaint with Sangkhla Buri Police Station.
According to the media, the tiger is a female, approximately four years old, weighing around 29 kilogrammes. The animal has been transferred to the Wildlife Forensic Science Centre, where DNA testing will be conducted to confirm its species and origin.
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