TRAT — Thai wildlife authorities are conducting an urgent rescue of five severely emaciated animals—two lions and three bears—discovered abandoned without food or water at a casino near the Thai-Cambodian border. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) initiated the operation on Tuesday after Royal Thai Marines alerted them to the animals’ critical condition.

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The animals, described as being in a state of severe malnutrition with visible ribs, include a male and female lion, two Asiatic black bears, and a Malayan sun bear. Veterinarians worked throughout Tuesday morning to stabilize them with fluids and nutrients, as the animals were initially too weak to be safely sedated for transport.

【泰军搜索柬赌场惊见5狮子与熊】

泰国军方近日不停轰炸柬埔寨边境多家赌场，达叻海军特遣队于今日（23日）在进入该赌场区域巡查及清理时，发现5只野生动物被关在笼子中，其中包括2只狮子、2只马来熊以及1只黑熊。#东方日报 #Thailand #Cambodia #Casino #Lion #Bear pic.twitter.com/eFbbe0Xaj0

— Oriental Daily 东方网 (@ODNMalaysia) December 23, 2025

Once medically cleared, the lions are scheduled to be relocated to a sanctuary in Ratchaburi, while the bears will be transferred to a facility in Chonburi. The rescue operation is expected to be completed by early Wednesday morning, with long-term rehabilitation teams ready to receive the animals at both locations.

-Thailand News (TN)