Thailand has long maintained some of the harshest drug laws in the world. Rooted in a decades-long war on drugs, the country enforces strict punishments for even minor narcotics offenses. Possession of small quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, or cannabis can lead to decades in prison, and trafficking convictions may result in life imprisonment or, in extreme cases, the death penalty. These severe measures were designed to deter crime, but they have instead contributed to a massive prison crisis. Thailand has one of the highest incarceration rates in Asia. Around 70–80% of inmates are behind bars for drug-related offenses, most of them low-level users or couriers rather than major traffickers. Sentences are lengthy, parole is limited, and court backlogs delay justice. As a result, prisons are dangerously overcrowded. Some facilities operate at two to three times their official capacity, forcing inmates into cramped, unsanitary conditions. Limited access to healthcare, poor nutrition...
The Man-Eater of Mfuwe In the history of human-wildlife conflict, few stories capture both terror and awe like that of the Man-Eater of Mfuwe. This massive lion roamed Zambia’s Luangwa Valley in 1991, leaving behind a legacy of fear, tragedy, and fascination. Unlike most lions, which usually avoid humans unless provoked or starving, this predator displayed extraordinary boldness. Over the course of his reign of terror, he was responsible for the deaths of six people. Yet what made him truly infamous was not only his appetite for human prey, but also the fearlessness with which he prowled villages—reportedly striding into one settlement while carrying away a woman’s laundry basket as if to taunt the residents. The Setting: Luangwa Valley The Luangwa Valley of eastern Zambia is one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife havens. Known for its rich biodiversity, sweeping floodplains, and dense woodlands, it provides a perfect home for elephants, hippos, leopards, and lions. But in 1991, the...