Illegal roads in wildlife sanctuary investigatedDepartment of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) officials inspect a newly cut road inside Mae Yuam Fang Khwa Wildlife Sanctuary and seize logs. DNP director-general Attapol Charoenchansa told a press briefing on Friday that the issue first surfaced in December when authorities discovered 6.6 kilometres of newly cut road inside Mae Yuam Fang Khwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Mae La Noi district. A fact-finding committee was later established, leading to the transfer of at least three officials from the Mae Yuam Fang Khwa and Salawin wildlife sanctuaries to inactive posts pending investigation. On Tuesday, the DNP filed a criminal complaint against former Mae Yuam Fang Khwa sanctuary chief Krisda Uttama, citing strong evidence he had solicited funds from villagers to finance the road construction. Public scrutiny has intensified amid reports that the road network spans 7.88 kilometres across the Mae Yuam Fang Khwa and Salawin wildlife sanctuaries, designated as critical wildlife habitat and classified as Class 1A watershed zone.

Source: Bangkok Post February 21, 2026 08:16 UTC