The Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) yesterday morning raided a market in Stung Treng town and briefly arrested a woman allegedly in possession of more than 20 kilograms of wild animal meat and four animals that were still alive.

According to Orn Chansocheat, a provincial Forestry Administration official, the WRRT – consisting of officials from the National Forestry Administration, Stung Treng Provincial Forestry Administration, National Military Police and NGO Wildlife Alliance – confiscated 14.5 kilograms of boar meat, 1.75 kilograms of mouse deer meat and 8 kilograms of sambar deer meet.

Alleged vendor Choam Thida, 18, was arrested at the Samaki Market, he said. Chansocheat said she was interrogated at the Forestry Administration office to find the hunters.

“After two hours of interrogation, our authorities decided to release the above vendor after she agreed to sign a contract promising to stop selling the meat and living wild animals,” he said.

Chansocheat said that besides the seizure of meat, authorities managed to save four tortoises. He said the animal meat was incinerated at the Stung Treng Provincial Forestry Administration office. The four tortoises were set free in a nearby lake.

In February, the NGO Wildlife Alliance and Forestry Administration officials seized 100 kilograms of wild animal meat in Stung Treng market, 45 kilograms of which was sambar deer meat.