A South Korean celebrity caught and ate protected giant clams off the coast of Trang province for a reality television show, according to a police complaint.
The complaint, filed yesterday by the head of a marine national park, alleges the crew of Law of the Jungle and actress Yeol-eum Lee were involved in diving off Koh Muk to catch three rare, giant saltwater clams protected under Thai law to cook for a survival challenge.
Giant clams, or Tridacna gigas, are endangered in the kingdom and protected under the 1992 Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act. Violators can be punished with up to a THB50,000 (about US$1,625) fine or four years in jail.
“The initial report was filed against the contestant, who was seen violating our law. But the authorities will also investigate and take action against all involved, like the production crew and boat operator,” Narong Kong-ead, chief of the Hat Chao Mai National Park, said this morning. He added that all those involved would be summoned for questioning.
Officials said the episode was filmed in late March at the Loh Udang Bay of Koh Muk, which is within the marine national park. It just aired Saturday on the Seoul Broadcasting System.
In the episode, Lee, is shown spotting a textured, yellow clam while swimming in the sea to look for things to cook with. She dives to it and tries to yank it from the seabed.
“It won’t move,” she says after emerging from the water for a quick break. But Lee was not deterred, telling the camera that she would try “pounding on it” before diving back into the water.
The second time around, she successfully manages to retrieve the clam. Lee then gives the camera a gleeful thumbs up before emerging from the water with her hands held high in pride.
“I’m the happiest person in the world! I did it! I caught the clam all on my own,” the contestant says, excitedly. The episode shows Lee managing to catch three clams during her hunt.
Watch the full Law of the Jungle episode here.
The episode later includes shots of the contestants cooking and eating several clams.
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