Man Charged in Laos for Killing Endangered White-Cheeked Gibbon
Phaiboun Thammavong faces up to three years in prison for violating wildlife protection laws.
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In Khammouane province, central Laos, a man has been arrested and charged under the country’s stringent wildlife protection laws for allegedly killing a white-cheeked gibbon, an endangered species. Phaiboun Thammavong, a resident of Phou Mak Neng village, was detained on May 15 after reportedly posting photos of the gibbon on social media.
White-cheeked gibbons, known to roam from the nearby Phou Pha Man Mountain, are under severe threat from illegal hunting and wildlife trade, with only about 600 remaining near the Laos-Vietnam border. Local police emphasized that the area where the gibbon was killed is near a protected forest, which also serves as a tourist attraction.
If convicted, Thammavong could face six months to three years in jail, along with a fine ranging from 10 million kip (US$500) to 50 million kip (US$2,500), as per Article 337 of Laos’ criminal code. This incident highlights ongoing efforts by Laotian authorities to combat wildlife crimes, which not only threaten biodiversity but also undermine legal tourism and conservation efforts.
In Khammouane province, central Laos, a man has been arrested and charged under the country’s stringent wildlife protection laws for allegedly killing a white-cheeked gibbon, an endangered species. Phaiboun Thammavong, a resident of Phou Mak Neng village, was detained on May 15 after reportedly posting photos of the gibbon on social media.
White-cheeked gibbons, known to roam from the nearby Phou Pha Man Mountain, are under severe threat from illegal hunting and wildlife trade, with only about 600 remaining near the Laos-Vietnam border. Local police emphasized that the area where the gibbon was killed is near a protected forest, which also serves as a tourist attraction.
If convicted, Thammavong could face six months to three years in jail, along with a fine ranging from 10 million kip (US$500) to 50 million kip (US$2,500), as per Article 337 of Laos’ criminal code. This incident highlights ongoing efforts by Laotian authorities to combat wildlife crimes, which not only threaten biodiversity but also undermine legal tourism and conservation efforts.
Translation:
Translated by AI
