CNN International: Live Tiger Cub Found in Check-in Luggage at Thai Airport

[Turborama]

By the CNN Wire Staff
August 27, 2010



Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Thai airport workers grew suspicious after a luggage X-ray found a live tiger cub hidden in a suitcase filled with stuffed toys, a wildlife trade monitoring network said.

Staff at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport contacted authorities after a baggage scan showed an item resembling a real cat in a passenger's over-sized bag, the non-profit organization TRAFFIC said Thursday. Investigators found a sedated, two-month-old tiger cub when they opened the bag for inspection.

Officials are trying to determine where the cub came from and whether it was caught in the wild or bred in captivity, TRAFFIC said.

Authorities found the tiger Sunday in a suitcase belonging to a 31-year-old Thai national, who was scheduled to board a flight for Iran, the organization said.

Chris R. Shepherd, TRAFFIC's deputy regional director for Southeast Asia, praised authorities for discovering the smuggling attempt, but said the case showed a need for more monitoring and tougher punishments. "If people are trying to smuggle live tigers in their check-in luggage, they obviously think wildlife smuggling is something easy to get away with and do not fear reprimand," Shepherd said. "Only sustained pressure on wildlife traffickers and serious penalties can change that."

From: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/27/thailand.tiger/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn#fbid=5tFS21of5oJ&wom=false

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. What do tigers dream of....

What do tigers dream of
when they take a little tiger snooze?
Do they dream of mauling zebras
or Halle Berry in her catwoman suit?

Don't you worry your pretty stripped head
we're gonna get you back to Tyson and your cozy tiger bed.
And they we're gonna find our bestfriend Doug
and then we're gonna give him a bestfriend hug.

Doug, Doug, Oh, Doug Douggie Douggie Doug Doug.

But if he's been murdered by crystal meth tweekers
well then we're shit out of luck.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Awwww...

Poor little guy... :(

[Turborama]

3. Just found a report with a video...

Looks like he's being looked after well, now: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Thailand-Tiger-Cub-Found-In-Womans-Suitcase-During-Baggage-Check-At-Bangkok-Airport/Article/201008415708020?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15708020_Thailand:_Tiger_Cub_Found_In_Womans_Suitcase_During_Baggage_Check_At_Bangkok_Airport


And a pic of the condition he was in when he was found...

[bdamomma]

4. oh they had to sedate that tiger, poor thing.

[Initech]

5. Did the passengers originate from Mike Tyson's house?