Thai marines have rescued five starving animals – two lions and three bears – abandoned in cages at a bombed-out Cambodian casino complex amid a deepening border fight between the neighbours.
Security forces were conducting a sweep of the seized building on Sunday in Trat province when they made the grim discovery, prompting them to send a veterinary team to the site the following day.
Officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) evaluated the condition of a pair of lions, two Asiatic black bears and one sun bear, describing them as scrawny due to chronic underfeeding and prolonged neglect at Thmor Dar Casino that Thailand struck earlier this month.
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DNP chief Atthapol Charoenchansa said the animals’ ribs were visible and tranquillising them posed a high risk of heart failure.
Atthapol said veterinarians administered vitamins to the animals as soldiers and park officials raced against time to move the cages out of the conflict-torn area.
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The bears were eventually transported to the Bang Lamung Wildlife Breeding Station in Chon Buri where they are recovering, while the lions found a new home at the Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Station in Ratchaburi.