White lion cub roaming Pattaya traced to wealthy Chinese owner

Thai police and wildlife authorities searched a residence in Chonburi province yesterday where a Chinese national has been keeping a white lion cub in contravention of wildlife protection laws.

Police and national park officers were alerted Wednesday by Nong Prue district residents who saw the little lion cub roaming freely around their homes. They told police they were concerned for their safety, according to Lt. Col. Chumpol Sanwichai of Nong Prue police. 

The two-story house is located in a luxury villa called Central Park Hillside in Soi Toongklom-Talman. Its owner was identified only as Chen Tai, a 39-year-old Chinese man. He told police that he bought the 3-year-old female cub for THB500,000 from a farm in Chachoengsao province. 

The white lion cub is specifically Panthera leo. It’s among 67 wildlife afforded legal protection in the kingdom, and people…