Samui zoo owner files complaint over threats amid Israeli visitor dispute
The owner of a Koh Samui zoo filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau on Monday, alleging that Israeli nationals threatened to harm her family and burn down her home and business after the park barred Israeli visitors and displayed a Palestinian flag.
The dispute began on August 12, when an Israeli family said it was denied entry because of its nationality and alleged that the owner’s French husband assaulted the father. The zoo’s owners said the restriction followed repeated incidents involving Israeli visitors who allegedly refused to pay admission fees, mistreated animals and disregarded park rules, including one incident in which a bird was struck and killed.
Officials said tensions escalated after the park displayed a Palestinian flag, a sign barring Israelis and an Israeli flag beside a paper shooting target. An Israeli man was subsequently fined 5,000 baht and given a two-year suspended sentence for making threats, while police are investigating allegations that another Israeli living in France offered a 500,000-baht bounty.
Authorities are considering revoking the visas of an Israeli involved in the dispute and the zoo owner’s French husband. The owner denied that her husband threatened to force Israelis off Koh Samui and said video footage would support their account.
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