Russians held for illegally possessing monkeys

Two Russian tourists were arrested Friday on charges of illegally possessing three protected pick-tailed monkeys. They allegedly exploited the animals for money by allowing tourists to take photos with the monkeys.

Andrey Belov, 31, and Ekaterina Denisovich, 22, were arrested by a group of police led by Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division chief Maj-General Norasak Hemnithi.

They were arrested on Phang Nga province's Koh Khai Nok island while luring other tourists to pay to take photos with the three pick-tailed monkeys, named Antony, Sam and Sonya.

Pick-tailed monkeys are protected and possession of them is banned under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act BE 2535.

The Nation