The Pattaya media were out in force this week to chronicle the finding of an unusual animal paying a visit to Pattaya. The press arrived at Soi Chaiyapreuk in East Pattaya to find a large group of armed school kids. Don't worry they were not armed in the usual way that Thai kids are armed they were armed with their smart phones to take a souvenir picture of this un-armed armadillo.
For those that don't know what an armadillo is - well it's like an armour plated rat. They have large claws and once were considered a nuisance for their habit of digging out the foundations of houses.
It was a Khun Somsook who found the armless armadillo and took it home for it's own safety. Wearing all that armour plating makes the armadillo crossing a road can be a dodgy manoeuvre as it is a slow moving target for ipad wielding Thai drivers.
In addition armadillos are a delicacy with prime examples fetching 2-3 thousand Baht a kilo. They are considered a protected species under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act which makes them even more valuable to illegal animal smugglers.
Was it Tony Christie who had a hit record with sha la la la la show me the way to amadillo.
