Two tourists are facing legal action after being photographed fishing illegally inside Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Nayok province over the weekend. The park’s chief, Chaiya Huayhongtong, confirmed that the pair will be charged with poaching, a violation that could lead to a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine of up to 500,000 baht.
The incident came to light after a Facebook user shared images of a man fishing at a watercourse in Thungkwang, a location within the national park, on August 31. A woman was also photographed sitting nearby. The post quickly gained traction online, with netizens expressing outrage at the tourists’ actions and demanding legal consequences.
Chaiya emphasized that this is the first known instance of illegal fishing in the park and vowed to pursue legal action to discourage similar behavior in the future. He stated that the park intends to set a clear precedent by holding the individuals accountable.
In a related issue, Khao Yai park officials are dealing with motorcyclists who tamper with their vehicles to meet park noise regulations. According to park official Pramote Pengbamrung, riders insert steel wool into their exhaust pipes to muffle the noise and pass park inspections. However, after entering the park, they remove the wool, which is often discarded by the roadside.
This discarded material presents a danger to wildlife, particularly elephants, which may ingest it. Additionally, the debris complicates routine park maintenance, such as grass cutting. Park officials are urging visitors to respect park rules and protect the environment from harm caused by such actions.
The park is coordinating with police to ensure appropriate legal measures are taken against the tourists involved in the illegal fishing incident.
