White lion cub seized from illegal hotel in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI — 18 September 2026, A Chinese national has been detained after authorities found a 2-3-month-old white lion cub allegedly being kept illegally at an unlicensed hotel in Chiang Mai.

The raid was carried out at around 15:00 on 18 September by officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED), Chiang Mai district officials and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation’s Protected Area Administration Office 16.

Officers searched a building at 84 Charoensuk Road in Chang Phueak subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai district, following complaints from local residents about loud roaring noises coming from inside the building.

Residents reportedly said they had been hearing the noises since 5 September and believed they came from a dangerous animal.

The search was led by Pol. Maj. Jirayu Inkaew, an inspector with NED Division 4, and Nattakorn Chum-intharachak, deputy district chief of Mueang Chiang Mai.

Inside the building, officers found a white lion cub estimated to be 2-3 months old on the second floor. They also found photographs showing the lion as it had grown from a young age.

A 40-year-old Chinese woman identified as Wang told officers she was the building’s housekeeper.

Officials from Protected Area Administration Office 16 examined the cub and found that it had no microchip and that no permit had been obtained to keep it. The animal was therefore seized for further examination after the woman failed to produce documents proving legal ownership.

Authorities also found that the building had been renovated and converted into accommodation for tourists, reportedly catering exclusively to Chinese visitors.

Nattakorn said the building had previously been submitted for hotel registration, but the application had not been approved. Despite this, the premises allegedly continued operating as a hotel without a licence.

Wang was taken to Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station for legal proceedings. She faces charges related to possessing protected wildlife without permission and operating a hotel without a licence.

Authorities said they would also investigate the alleged financiers behind the property and any Thai nationals involved in acquiring the building.