KOH SAMUI, Thailand – The Koh Samui Provincial Court has fined an Israeli man 5,000 baht for threatening the life of the owner of Samui Exotic Park, a zoo on the island in Surat Thani, following a complaint filed over a Facebook post that threatened the owner. Koh Samui police said the man, identified only as Mr Jacob, was arrested after Jindarat Sattayapun filed a complaint, and police had set up a safety checkpoint outside the park from August 15 after learning of the alleged threat, while they continue to seek another person accused of placing a 500,000-baht bounty on the zoo owner.

Ministry moves to resolve Israeli-zoo owner dispute on Koh Samui

The row began after an Israeli couple travelling with two children said they were refused entry to the park on August 12, with the Thai woman operating the zoo stating she had decided not to admit Israelis after several visitors allegedly refused to pay entrance fees, took animal feed from other guests’ baskets, ignored park rules, and squirted milk into pigs’ faces.

Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said he had received reports of disputes between the zoo owner and Israeli expatriates living on Koh Samui, while separate reports indicated an Israeli national had ordered the owner to close the zoo and leave the island.

Full story & audiohttps://t.co/zxjVn09EVy

— Bangkok Post (@BangkokPostNews) August 21, 2026

In a separate development, Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay said officials, police, immigration officers, and other agencies were investigating online claims involving the French co-owner of Samui Exotic Park and his Thai wife, with the online dispute linked to flags displayed at the entrance to the park. Officials said a Palestinian flag bearing the words “Free Palestine” was displayed along with an Israeli flag carrying a symbol saying Israelis were not welcome and a paper shooting target, displays that authorities said had offended Israeli people.

Immigration officials reportedly found that an Israeli accused of making a death threat online was in France rather than on Koh Samui and had exchanged criticism and challenges with the French zoo owner.

Israeli Tourist Accused of Threatening Tuk-Tuk Driver in Phuket

Amorn said authorities would establish the facts before deciding whether any law had been broken, and that safety and legal protection would apply equally to all nationalities on Koh Samui. The case has drawn attention to tensions between the zoo management and certain foreign residents on the island, with authorities working to resolve the dispute while maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of all parties involved.

-Thailand News (TN)