Thai police say they have arrested a pet shop owner for illegally possessing wildlife after finding hundreds of protected species, including rare lions, in his warehouse near Bangkok.
Police Col. Ek Ekasart said today that police found 14 albino lions from Africa, hundreds of birds, meerkats, tortoises, peafowls, monkeys and other species believed to be from overseas and Thailand.
Police also found a hornbill and a leopard cat that are protected by Thai law.
Ekasart says Montri Boonprom-on, 41, faces charges of possessing wildlife animals and carcasses and could face up to four years in jail.
Police say Montri owned an exotic pet shop at Bangkok's renowned Chatuchak weekend market and was previously convicted of wildlife trade.
Thailand is a hub of the international black market in protected animals.
