A Karen National Union (KNU) soldier has been arrested in Sai Yok National Park in Sai Yok district of Kanchanaburi with bearcat and macaque carcasses, guns and ammunition while two others fled.
Panachakorn Pobundit, chief of the Sai Yok National Park, said yesterday a patrol group of park rangers and soldiers found a camp belonging to three KNU soldiers in Khao Loh forest inside the park in tambon Wang Krachae at 1.15pm on Wednesday.
The location was about 3 kilometres from the Thai-Myanmar border.
Authorities arrested Satu, 26, who was resting on a hammock. Another KNU soldier identified as Sapui jumped off his hammock and ran away. The third, Kora, reportedly left the camp before the encounter.
The officials found 21 smoked pieces of bearcat, weighing 3kg in total, and 24 smoked pieces of macaque with a combined weight of 2kg.
They also seized at the camp a Colt AR-15 automatic rifle with 38 bullets, a Baikal rifle with seven shotgun cartridges and a homemade rifle.
Mr Panachakorn said the KNU soldiers illegally entered Thai territory and the national park on Tuesday to hunt wildlife for food.
The arrested suspect faces several charges at Sai Yok police station related to illegal entry, poaching and possession of wildlife carcasses and weapons.
