ARTICLES:
Butchered tigers, leopards seized on Thai-Lao border
Elephants die of flatulence
Two arrested in pangolin bust
Plodprasop seeks review to clear name over tiger exports
Two rare black bears found in house raid
New protected areas to be set for humpback dolphins
Luxury Store Owner Convicted for Wildlife Trafficking
Police to play leading role in crackdown on wildlife trade Asean joint efort aims to combat smuggling
Thai PM opens Safari Park, minus Safari Animals
Kenya Defends animal export to Thailand
King asked to intervene on Oran-utan case
A white elephant at the Night Safari
Influential people aiding poacers in national park
Zoo plan for former refugee camp
Couple say 'Night Safari took our land'
B700M elephant park fir Doi-Pui
Yongyuth stalls on aide's fate Demands intensify for Plodprasop to be fired
NHRC backs calls to fire Plodprasop
Chiang Mai: Activists treaten mob protests
Activists dare Plodprasop to shoulder costs if zoo goes bust
Thaksin takes action to save forest
Quarrel over night zoo hits fever pitch
Activists 'assaulted by Plodprasop aided'
PM urges ti scrap animal deal
Letter to the Editor
Court will be asked to rule on Safari park
Save the forest from corportate greed
Notorious tiger hunter convicted to 7 years in prison
Wildlife interpol aims to crack down on illegal wildlife trade in southeast asia
Project seen as model to end elephant raids
Conservationists unconcinced by backtrack on exotic fare at Night Safari
Chiang Mai Night Safari
Two charged with smuggling wild animals
Zoo to open but wildlife scarce
Panel 'not likely to punish Plodprasop'
Bird, turtle sellers arrested
12 Orangutans 'smuggled in'
Three men caught taking tiger meat to Bangkok
Bali Marine Police confiscate sea turtles, 45 are released alive
Government doubts if eagles had bird flu virus
Bird-Flu alert in Brussels
Asean vows to end trade in wildlife
Four held on rare bird possession charges
CITES: Illegal elephant trade booming
Thailand, Indonesia want to restrict trade in dwindling species at CITES meet
Police seize truckload of pangolins
US proposal to control turtle trade seen by Thai critics as trade barrier
Thai elephants being smuggled into Burma
Vets begin DNA testing of Zoo's orangutans
DNA tests to find out origin of orangutans
Plodprasop's shunt to PM's office confirmed
Primates to go home
Three more apes reported dead
Confusion reigns over future of Safari World orangutans
Police find missing apes at private zoo
Safari World Owner Denies Smuggling Apes
Zoo to lose 69 orangutans
Questions over 41 'dead' Orang-utans at Safari World
Doubts over claim apes succumbed to pneumonia
Zoo Loses 41 Orang-utans
Indonesians upset over Orang-utans
Orangutan Boxing Banned at Animal Park
Apes at Safari World undergo DNA tests
Head of CITES Thailand to face panel in tiger inquiry
Plodprasop appeals for new probe into export of tigers
Stop trade in ivory, African states say
Plodprasop to face disciplinary probe
Spanish police seize ivory from 400 elephants
Plodprasop erred in approving tiger exports to China, says panel
Costa Rican Constitutional Court Rules
Man Found in Possession of 400 Geckoes
Officials Linked to Tiger Exports
Eight months jail for 12 caught with 160 turtles
Zoo 'lacks papers', faces legal action
Plodprasop 'acted wrongly'
DNA tests for orang-utans

Butchered tigers, leopards seized on Thai-Lao border: navy

30 January 2008

BANGKOK (AFP) — Six slaughtered tigers and five leopards have been seized along with 275 live pangolins as traffickers tried to smuggle them across the Mekong River into Laos, the Thai navy said Wednesday.
The animals were being loaded off trucks and onto a boat when a navy patrol discovered them late Tuesday, Lieutenant Commander Teeranan Dangpun told AFP.
At least six people escaped into the forest, while others on the boat fled into Laos carrying four sacks believed to contain more animal remains, said Teeranan, who led the operation.
The six Bengal tigers discovered on the riverbank had been sliced in half, while the leopards had had their organs removed, he said.
"This is the second time we have intercepted wildlife being smuggled across the river to Laos. We suspect that the smugglers are all part of the same ring," Teeranan said.
In the operation last month, Teeranan said his team arrested seven smugglers and rescued 30 live pangolins.
All trade in Asian pangolins has been illegal since 2000. Their meat is regarded as a delicacy in China and their scales are believed to cure a wide range of ailments.
"Information from those smugglers led us to this case. Otherwise, we would never have caught any of them," he said.
The remains were sent to the conservation department for analysis to determine where they were taken from, he said.
The pangolins probably originated in Malaysia or Indonesia and were being trafficked through Thailand, he said.
According to Teeranan, a wild cat can be sold for 100,000 to 200,000 baht (3,000 to 6,000 dollars), while live pangolins are worth around 2,200 baht (66 dollars) per kilogram.
Each pangolin weighs about four kilograms (nine pounds).
Hannarong Yaowalers, a Thai wildlife activist, said the butchered felines were likely raised in captivity, because catching so many big cats in the wild was difficult.
Tiger hunting is illegal worldwide.

 

Elephnats die of flatulence

- BKK Post 11th Oct 2007

Chaing Mai- Two elephants at the Chiang Mai Night Safari have died from flatulence, possibly from eating insecticide-contaminated grass, veterinarians said. A large amount of gas was found inside the stomuch of the elephants, both of which died on Saturday.

Undigested grass may have generated too much gas, zoo vet Anurut Angkusing said.

However, it was possible the animals had been killed by chemicals such as insectides, which night have contaminated the grass. They were looking for traces of toxins, but the results of the tests would not be known for two weeks, said Mr.Anurut. Three other elephants had also suffered from flatulence, but they had been treated successfully. The zoo's grass supplier, a local joint business group, denied using pesticide on its grass.

Two arrested in pangolin bust

- BKK Post 8th Oct 2007

Chumphon _ Police arrested two men yesterday and seized 130 endangered pangolins from their pick-up truck as they were on their way to Nong Khai.

The protected animals were probably destined for restaurants in Laos and China, police said.

The two men, Tui Prasertkaew, 39, and Danai Sima, 28, admitted they were hired to transport the pangolins from Sadao, on the border with Malaysia in Songkhla, to Nong Khai in the Northeast.

Some of the pangolins were extremely weak and may not survive as they were crammed together in dreadful conditions in the back of the vehicle for hours, police said.

Pangolins, which are covered under the Wild Animal Protection Act, are often smuggled through Thailand, from the South through to the Northeast where they continue on through to restaurants in China.

Police said they would send all the seized pangolins to Huay Sai wild animal research station in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district to recover before releasing them back to the forest.

Pangolin smuggling continues to be a major problem in Southeast Asia despite concerted efforts to stamp out the illegal trade, police said.

Plodprasop seeks review to clear name over tiger exports

Plodprasop Suraswadi, former chief of the Royal Forestry Department, will today ask the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to review its decision to indict him for malfeasance over his involvement in the export of 100 Bengal tigers to China five years ago.

Published on August 17, 2007

"I will submit relevant documents to the NCCC," Plodprasop said yesterday.

He said some NCCC members claimed that they did not see China's written request to buy the tigers, while such documents existed.

"Another point is that the NCCC has accused me of breaching Clause 1 of Section 26 in the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, while I exercised my authority under Clause 2," Plodprasop said.

According to Clause 2, private zoos can export animals if they obtain permission from the government. The animals in this case belonged to privately owned Sri Racha Tiger Zoo.

Plodprasop said he had previously exercised his authority in this manner while at the helm of the Royal Forestry Department and did not have any problem.

He insisted that his action had caused no harm to the country. He saw it as good for Thailand's relationships with China.

Watana Vetayaprasit, who heads the Wildlife and Wild Plant Conservation and Protection Division, said the case now seemed to depend on how the NCCC would interpret the law.

"I don't know whether the case will make it harder to export animals," he said.

According to Watana, the Lao government has asked for six Bengal tigers from Thailand and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation was still considering the request.

If approved, the tigers will be sent to a state zoo in Laos.

Two rare black bears found in house raid

PIYARACH CHONGCHAROEN

Kanchanaburi _ Wildlife officials confiscated two rare black bears, a civet skin, elephant legs and dismembered barking deer carcasses in a raid on a house in Sangkhla Buri district. The house, belonging to Supakit Supan, 30, is believed to be a gathering place for forest poachers who hunt protected animals for sale along the Thai-Burmese border, said Worachai Maitanachote of the Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

The poachers usually catch animals in the dry season, when wildlife hunting is most common, he said.

The team that raided the house found two living Asiatic black bears, a civet skin, and meat from elephants and barking deer.

Asiatic black bears are a favoured target of poachers because the demand for them on the black market is high, department officials said.

Environment officials are stepping up efforts to prevent poaching of wild elephants when they go to drink at a pond dug by local officials, who wanted to provide them with a source of water in the dry season.

Wildlife group Friends of the Asian Elephants has asked wildlife officials to keep a close watch. This follows a report that the elephants were being hunted by a gang trading in elephant parts.

An environment official in Kanchanaburi, Winit Rakchart, said he did not believe the gang existed although he would take reports of poaching seriously to see if any illegal activities taking place involved state officials.
BKK Post 12th March 07

New protected areas to be set for humpback dolphins

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

Nakhon Si Thammarat _ Thong Nien, Khanom and Sadej bays will be designated an environmental protection zone to safeguard the habitat of humpback dolphins, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Kasem Snidvongs said.

Illegal fishing and the construction of a deep-sea port in the area have taken the dolphins a step closer to extinction.

''We are going to study in detail how the protection zone should be set up,'' the minister said.

''Any construction or fishing activity seen harmful to their habitat will be banned in the area. We hope that the measures to be introduced are good enough to stop the dolphin population from dwindling further.''

He was speaking during a visit to Khanom district, where he received complaints from local villagers about the dangers facing the protected humpback dolphins.

Thanks to the lush sea grass that still covers about 45 rai, Khanom district is home to various species of dolphins including the humpback, which now number only about 30 in the area.

They are regularly spotted in Thong Nien, Khanom and Sadej bays.

Wichok Sookso, the Laem Pratad village head in tambon Thong Nien, said his village was the most convenient spot for observing the humpbacks.

He said concern was growing over the invasion by fishing vessels in the three bays and urged the state to take immediate action to right the wrongs before it is too late.

Local people could not afford to let the creatures die because they attracted tourists and brought in a year-round income.

''We will fully cooperate with the state to protect them. But fishermen from outside the area don't care about saving the creatures. They use various kinds of illegal fishing equipment to maximise their catch,'' said the village headman.

The designation environment protection zone means the area will be governed under specific environmental laws and regulations. Similar zones have been declared in Phuket, Pattaya, Chon Buri, Phangnga and Trang provinces.

Anuwat Nateewathana, acting director of the Office of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation , voiced his concern over the construction of a deep-sea port in Sadej bay, saying it would have a bad impact on the marine ecology of the area.

''Although local authorities have ordered a halt to the construction of the deep-sea port, we have found that it is still going on.

''The minister is taking the issue seriously. He will demand an explanation from the agencies which were told to make sure the project was brought to a halt,'' said Mr Anuwat.

A private firm is also dredging the area to pave the way for visits by large cruise liners. If the activity is allowed to continue at this rate, it will eventually destroy all the sea grass in the dolphin habitat, say local residents and environmentalists.

Humpback dolphins are a protected species under Thai law.

Luxury Store Owner Convicted for Wildlife Trafficking

Submitted by Anastvatz on Tue, 2007-08-28 07:04.

A Bangkok luxury store owner was convicted today (August 27) for breaching Thailand's wildlife protection law.

The store owner, Mr Reyaz Ahmad Mir, an Indian national from Kashmir, pleaded guilty to charges of illegally importing and selling "shahtoosh" shawls made from the wool derived from poaching highly endangered Tibetan Antelopes (Pantholops hodgsonii).

He was sentenced to two years in prison and fined USD $600. In consideration of his guilty plea the Thai criminal court reduced his sentence to two years probation and a USD $300 fine. The court also ruled that the government confiscate all contraband shawls seized from the defendant. In this case, the shawls were worth at least USD $20,000.

A second and larger case against additional Bangkok-based traffickers in shahtoosh is pending.

The two high-profile international wildlife trafficking cases involved hundreds of shahtoosh shawls being smuggled from China, through India, and into Thailand. One shawl is normally made from the wool of 3 to 5 dead Tibetan Antelopes.

In July 2006, after four months of undercover work, the Thai government's wildlife crime task force raided several stores in Bangkok, arresting three Indian nationals on charges of illegally selling shahtoosh shawls. The vendors told undercover investigators that they normally sold the shawls to wealthy tourists. Over one hundred shawls were seized from two high-end Bangkok shops alone.

The Thai special task force was set up under the new "ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network" (ASEAN-WEN), established last year by the 10 countries of Southeast Asia to combat the region's wildlife criminals. Tip offs about the Bangkok shahtoosh traffickers were provided to the Task Force by the conservation groups TRAFFIC and Wildlife Alliance.

The case has since been closely monitored by wildlife law enforcement agencies around the world, which cooperated by providing information and support for Thai authorities as they prosecuted the illegal dealers.

The U.S. Government assisted Thai prosecutors in strengthening their cases after suspects claimed the seized shawls were not made from shahtoosh. Forensic experts from the US Fish and Wildlife Service were flown into Bangkok in December 2006 to conduct tests on the shawls, proving they were indeed made from the endangered Tibetan antelope.

Officers from the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), UK Government, Interpol, and Swiss Customs also shared information on the shahtoosh trade with the Thai police to support their case against the shahtoosh traffickers. John Sellar, Senior Enforcement Officer of CITES, said, "Having spent time with anti-poaching patrols on the Tibetan Plateau, I know that they cannot protect these rare animals on their own. They need the support of law enforcement colleagues around the world to act against those who sell the products of this evil trade. The wildlife, Police and prosecution authorities in Thailand have demonstrated very effectively the type of response that is needed. CITES has been delighted to assist with this case and congratulates the Thai authorities on the outcome."

"We feel that this is a big step forward in Thailand's efforts to deal with international illegal wildlife trafficking," said Maj. Gen. Boonmee Somsuk, Commander of the Thai Nature Crimes Police. "The court's decision confirms that it is illegal to trade protected species in Thailand, even if they are imported from another country. Those who traffic illegal wildlife here will be punished."

"This case is a breakthrough for ASEAN-WEN. It demonstrates that when law enforcement officers and conservationists work together across agency and national boundaries, the illegal wildlife traffickers have less chance of getting away with these heinous crimes" said Steven Galster, Director of Field Operations for Wildlife Alliance in Thailand.

Galster, added, however, that "the case also sends a signal to Thai lawmakers that their wildlife legislation needs even further strengthening", noting that the maximum fine for wildlife traffickers in Thailand is just 1,200 USD.

Chris Shepherd of TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, said "We hope this will send a clear message to other such retailers that imported animal products will not be exempt from scrutiny under Thai law, even in the high-end parts of Bangkok".

Endangered Tibetan Antelopes (also known as the Chiru) are hunted and killed by poachers to make shahtoosh shawls, which are sold on the black market for between $US1,200-$12,000 apiece. There may be as few as 50,000 Tibetan Antelopes left in the wild, a sharp drop from the one million that roamed the Tibetan Plateau early last century. The antelope has been listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1979, prohibiting all trade in shahtoosh. IUCN - The World Conservation Union-- classifies the Tibetan Antelope as Endangered due to illegal hunting on its Red List.

The ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) is an inter-governmental initiative which has brought 10 Southeast Asia governments together to combat wildlife crime. ASEAN-WEN is designed to protect Asia's wildlife from illegal and unsustainable exploitation by facilitating the exchange of vital intelligence among police, customs, and environmental agencies about wildlife criminals operating within the ASEAN region. Thailand is a founding signatory of the ASEAN-WEN initiative. -World Wildlife Fund

 

BKK Post 20th Feb 2006 Illegally cut teak logs seized in protected forest SUPAMART KASEM Tak _ Fifty-six teak logs have been seized in a watershed area in Mae Ramat district where a large area of protected forest has been illegally logged. The logs, and another 12 pieces of processed wood, were found scattered over 200 rai in the Mae Ramat forest reserve. Elephants and tractors were used to pull the logs out of the area yesterday. ''The loggers had fled the area before we arrived,'' said Pol Lt-Col Kritawat Likhitbandit, police inspector for the environmental crime suppression unit. The logs would probably have been processed at a sawmill in the area before being sent to furniture and construction companies. Watersheds were the heart of highland forests because they serve as a prime water source, he said. Felling trees in the area could trigger flash floods during the rainy season, and cause water shortages for people downstream. Tak and other northern provinces have suffered severe deforestation due to decades of illegal logging and encroachment by farmers. The forest area has shrunk from 10 million rai (16,000 sq km) to seven million rai (11,200 sq km).

Orang-utans rightfully belong in Indondesian rain forests, not zoos

Re: "King asked to intervene on orang-utan case", News, February 17. I wish to express my anger about the way Thailand is dealing with the confiscated orang-utans from the Safari World zoo. These orang-utans should have been returned to Indonesia two years ago, but they have become the victims of political power games and greed. Thailand has no right to keep these orang-utans. They are highly endangered primates, and all international agreements state that these orang-utans should be returned to Indonesia. This case gives Thailand a very bad name, which is so unnecessary. Protests worldwide are being organised to demand the release of these primates. Why are they still being kept inside the country, and why do letters remain unanswered? Internationally, governments should cooperate to end the illegal wildlife trade, and returning these orang-utans to the rain forests in Indonesia would be the first step Thailand should take right now. Femke den Haas Director, ProAnimalia International Jakarta

 

The Nation 19th Feb 2006 The orang-utan scandal is giving the Kingdom a black eye in international circles Re: "King asked to intervene on orang-utan case", News, February 17. The refusal of the Thai authorities to take the matter of the smuggled orang-utans from Safari World has not gone unnoticed internationally. As I write from the Nyaru Menteng Orang-utan Reintroduction Project in Kalimantan, I look out over the cages we have specifically built to receive these orang-utans, as well as 50 hectares of forest in which it was hoped they could have a chance to relearn the ways of the forest. Our highly-skilled staff has been anxiously awaiting their arrival since it was revealed that they were illegally procured, believing that the orang-utans would be promptly returned as is stipulated by CITES. Instead, the surviving orang-utans continue to languish in sub-standard conditions, or have been sent, illegally, to Cambodia and to the Lop Buri Zoo. To add further shame, we now discover that five orang-utans have been lent to the Chiang Mai Night Safari to lure tourists.   Such blatant and continuous disregard for the laws that protect wildlife is bringing disgrace upon Thailand. Indeed, for a country and a people who so depend on tourism, I am disheartened to receive many letters and e-mails from my supporters saying they will no longer travel to Thailand until the matter is settled satisfactorily. We have not called for a boycott of tourism to the country, but this has been their personal choice. The claim by the Thai government that they have yet to ascertain the country of origin of these orang-utans, and cannot return them until this is done, is outrageous. There is no justifiable reason why, for the past 30 months, there has not already been any DNA tests done to resolve this. We call upon the Thai authorities to resolve this matter immediately, and to bring no more shame onto the beautiful people and country of Thailand. Michelle Desilets Director, Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation BORNEO

 

Night Safari riles Aust activists Zoos in Sydney and Melbourne have agreed to send 40 Australian native animals to a safari park in Thailand at which it is alleged many animals have died, Fairfax newspapers report. In exchange, Melbourne Zoo and Taronga Zoo will import eight Asian elephants. The plan is detailed in a memorandum of agreement between the Thai government and the Victoria and New South Wales governments signed in June 2004, the newspapers are reporting.It was tabled in the Sydney Administrative Appeals Tribunal during a recent attempt by animal-welfare groups to stop the elephant imports. One Thai activist told the Fairfax newspapers that birds in the Chiang Mai Night Safari were dying every day, three out of six crocodiles had died of infection and one hyena had been eaten by others, while Thai media claim 104 animals have died. In a statement, the zoos said the transfer of Australian animals to Thai zoos was not contingent on the elephant programme. -- AGENCIES

 

 

Fate in Thailand remains unknown for animals Green light on animal capture angers international animal welfare groups Coastweek - - The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is concerned to learn that the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife is reported to have ordered the Kenyan Wildlife Service to begin capturing wild animals for export to a Thai zoo. The move follows the expiry of a 60 day High Court injunction today (16 February 2006) granted to WSPA Member Society the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) and the Community Based Organisations network (CBO) preventing shipment of the animals to the Chiang Mai Night Safari. The groups have now taken the matter back to court but it will not be heard until March 8, 2006. "Animals born in the wild are inherently terrified of the close proximity of humans and will suffer stress and possible death if they are taken from the wild, incarcerated and transported over long distances," said Dr Nick de Souza, a consultant for WSPA Africa. He added: "Even if they do survive the journey their fate in Thailand remains unknown." National and international opponents lobbying the Thai and Kenyan Governments to stop the transfer have suggested that the animals selected for export could be provided by other captive facilities in South-East Asia rather than being sourced from the wild. WSPA believes such a tragic ill-considered decision would give precedence to further capture of wildlife for international trade and urges the Kenyan government to stop what it considers an unnecessary and inhumane transfer of animals. WSPA

 

Concern over zoo deal on animals By Andrew Darby February 18, 2006 MELBOURNE Zoo has agreed to send Australian native animals to a troubled Thai safari park at which it is alleged that large numbers of animals have died. The zoo and its Sydney counterpart will send about 40 native animals, including koalas, kangaroos, dingoes and possums, to the Chiang Mai Night Safari in a deal that will see the importation to Australia of eight Asian elephants. Details of the plan are revealed in a memorandum of agreement signed between the Thai Government and the Victorian and NSW governments in June 2004. The agreement was tabled in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney during a recent battle by animal welfare groups to halt the elephant import. One prominent Thai animal activist, who cannot be named, said there had been many animal deaths at the Thai safari park. He said birds were dying every day, three out of six crocodiles had died of infection and one hyena was killed by others. Thai media have claimed 104 animals have died. Rebecca Brand, spokeswoman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said her organisation was concerned about the animal transfer. "We definitely have concerns about the animals at Night Safari, about Australian wildlife going there and whether their needs could be met," she said. The agreement commits the Australian zoos to helping their Thai partner become an international leader in wildlife presentation. Training and advice will be provided to park staff. Mark Williams, media relations manager at Taronga Zoo, said in a statement devised with Melbourne Zoo that the transfer of Australian animals to Thai zoos was not contingent on the elephant program. He said Australian animals held by Thai zoos would be managed under Australian laws and any illness or injury to the animals would have to be reported. He said zoo staff would be raising the reports of deaths at Night Safari with Thai authorities on a visit to Thailand next week.

 

>Australia-Thai animal trade set in motion > >Zoos in Sydney and Melbourne have agreed to send 40 Australian native >animals to a safari park in Thailand at which it is alleged many animals >have died, Fairfax newspapers report this morning. In exchange Melbourne >Zoo and Taronga Zoo will import eight Asian elephants. > >The plan is detailed in a memorandum of agreement between the Thai >government and the Victorian and NSW government signed in June 2004, the >newspapers are reporting. > >It was tabled in the Sydney Administrative Appeals Tribunal during a >recent attempt by animal welfare groups to stop the elephant import. > >One Thai activist told the Fairfax newspapers birds in the Chiang Mai >Night Safari were dying every day, three out of six crocodiles had died of >infection and one hyena was killed by others, while Thai media claim 104 >animals have died. > >In a statement, the zoos said the transfer of Australian animals to Thai >zoos was not contingent on the elephant program. > >The statement said zoo staff would raise the issue of the reported deaths >with Thai authorities on a visit to Thailand next week. BKK Post 18th Feb '06

Police to play leading role in crackdown on wildlife trade Asean joint effort aims to combat smuggling
BKK Post 19th Feb 2006
By Manop Thip-osod

Thai police will play a leading role under an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) joint effort to combat illegal wildlife trade that continues to plague the region, with Thailand being used as a transit point. The environmental crime suppression division under the supervision of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) will begin training its police officers next week on how to fight wildlife traffickers. The illegal wildlife trade is currently second only to drugs trafficking when it comes to profit-making, said CIB deputy commander Pol Maj-Gen Wut Liptapanlop. ''Police need to strictly enforce the wildlife law,'' he said. Close cooperation with police and environmental agencies in other Southeast Asian countries is planned through the Asean Wildlife Enforcement Network (Asean WEN) which was set up in December last year. Its establishment was initiated by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who vowed to crack down on illegal trade in endangered animals and plants during a conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (Cites) in Bangkok in 2004. Cites has produced a list of protected wildlife species threatened with extinction, including 790 endangered species found in Thailand. Export of the listed species for commercial purposes are prohibited under the agreement. The international wildlife trade watchdog, which currently has 169 members, has been keeping a close watch on Thailand as the country has been identified as one of the major routes for trading in illegal wildlife in the region. Over the past decade, a large number of shipments involving endangered wild animals have been stopped in Thailand on their way to neighbouring countries. ''The government is trying hard to protect vulnerable species, but poaching in illegal wildlife has shown no sign of decreasing,'' Pol Maj-Gen Wut said. The government needs to throw itself into the battle more seriously, he said. There were 761 court cases in which the wildlife protection law was violated last year, with 546 suspects involved, he said

Thai PM opens safari park, minus safari animals
Mon Feb 6, 2006 3:53 PM GMT163 By Ed Cropley CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Reuters)

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra opened Thailand's biggest safari park on Monday, even though the venture, which has been dubbed a 1.1 billion baht ($28 million) white elephant, remains short of safari animals. Returning to his home city of Chiang Mai after a weekend of protests calling for his resignation, Thaksin refused to answer questions from reporters about a controversial deal to ship in game from Kenya to populate the "Night Safari" theme park. Instead, the telecoms billionaire dwelt on his dream of pumping millions of dollars of government money into the sleepy northern city to transform it into a regional rival of Hong Kong or Singapore, which already has a similar attraction. "It will be like Disneyland, but more focused on nature," Thaksin said at a lavish opening ceremony, before disappearing off into the dark to peer at a gibbon hanging listlessly from a tree and two tigers in a metal cage. Glossy brochures for the 130 hectare site in foothills outside the city promise an "African savannah" with "harmless animals such as elephants, giraffe and zebras," or a "Predator Prowl" replete with "lions, tigers, Asiatic black bears, hyenas and crocodiles, etc." However, on closer inspection, many of the advertised exhibits are missing, despite Thaksin himself lobbying the Kenyan government in November for a shipment of more than 100 safari animals in return for "technical assistance." After an uproar from conservationists, who said it was akin to poaching, Kenya said it would only export "animals that we have in plenty, such as flamingos, wildebeest and the African buffalo." Nairobi also refused to set a date for any shipment, and ruled out sending animals covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). OUTRAGE "The idea of poaching wildlife in the jungles and fields of Kenya to put into a small enclosure in northern Thailand for the sole purpose of turning it into a tourist hub is outrageous," said Edwin Wiek of green group Wildlife Friends of Thailand. Reported comments -- later retracted -- by zoo boss Plodprasop Suraswadi suggesting visitors would be able to dine on tiger, lion, elephant and giraffe, only fueled the outrage against a nation regarded as a hub of the illegal wildlife trade. The Kenyan controversy is not the first to blight the project, which is just one phase of a planned 4 billion baht "Mega project" cash injection for Chiang Mai. Plodprasop has been challenged to shoulder financial responsibility for a project crictics say is destined for failure, and local media have reported nearby orchards overrun by Asian elephants whose mahouts have been promised a starring role. "All our dreams and efforts to make a living from this orchard are completely destroyed," farmer's wife Dawan Saosena told the Bangkok Post. "Now we can't even get inside our orchard because we are afraid of the strangers and their animals." (c) Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Kenya defends animal export to Thailand
BKK Post

Nairobi: The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has asked the nation's High Court to strike out a suit challenging the controversial export of animals to Thailand for the Chiang Mai Night Safari, a Kenya Broadcasting Corp report said. The service issued a notice of its intention to raise a preliminary objection to the suit, arguing that those who filed the suit lack the standing with the court to proceed. Last year, Nairobi CBO Consortium, Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, and Thomas Ondiba Aosa sued the Tourism minister seeking to block the export of 175 wild animals to Chiang Mai. They also obtained a temporary order, which remains in force until March 8, suspending the deal, which was signed at State House, Nairobi, last Nov 9. Lawyer Patrick Lutta, appearing for KWS, argued that the three conservationists were unincorporated bodies. KWS has been named as the interested party while the minister is the respondent.

King asked to intervene on orang-utan case

Three British wildlife-protection groups launched a campaign early this week to ask for His Majesty the King's help in returning to Indonesia 75 orang-utans confiscated from Safari World in Bangkok more than two years ago.

Sean Whyte, founder of Nature Alert, a UK-based wildlife-conservation group, wrote in an e-mail sent to The Nation that he believes "only the King can now help these orang-utans".

Whyte said that some 10,000 postcards addressed to the King have been freely distributed to people all over the world requesting His Majesty's help in the matter.

The postcards, which feature pictures of captured orang-utans and a message asking for His Majesty's help in freeing them, were published by Nature Alert, Orang-utan Appeal (UK) and the Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation (UK).

In his e-mail, Whyte said that along with the other organisations involved, he has taken every "reasonable" approach to both the Thai government and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) Secretariat in order to try and help the orang-utans, but has had no response.

Whyte said that a further 30,000 postcards - 10,000 each to the Thai Ambassador to the UK, the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's London office, and the secretary-general of the Cites Secretariat office in Geneva - had also been distributed.

Forest Police and the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Varieties Conservation raided Safari World, a privately owned zoo in Bangkok, in November 2003. They confiscated 75 baby orang-utans, which were proved to have been procured through illegal trading.

Wildlife conservationists have requested that the animals be sent back to Indonesia, where the orang-utans are believed to have come from.

The deputy director-general of the Department of Natural Resources, Chawal Tanhikorn, said the department is unable to comply with their wishes because there is no confirmation that the animals originate from the country as they may also come from Malaysia, another natural habitat of orang-utans.

Chawal added that the department is working closely with the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia to find out the exact origin of the orang-utans.

When this is ascertained, all of the animals will be sent back, he said.

Chawal also said that the orang-utans are now being kept at the Khao Pratap Chang Wildlife Rescue Centre in Ratchaburi province. However, he added that five of them have been "borrowed" by the Chiang Mai Night Safari to attract visitors.

"I don't understand why the conservationists have not attacked the orang-utans' country of origin. Instead, they've focussed on us, who have helped to crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade," he said.

Pennapa Hongthong, The Nation

COMMENTARY: A white elephant at the Night Safari
By Bannaros Buakhlee 15 January 2006 17:21

The Chiang Mai Night Safari is the first phase of a 10-billion-baht project to develop 10,000 rai at the foot of Doi Suthep. It is perhaps the single biggest development project near the mountain since Chiang Mai was founded by Phya Meng Rai in 1296.

In recent months, public criticism has focused only on the Night Safari and ignored the many problems plaguing the larger project.

As the Night Safari is the only finished part of the project to date, the attention it has garnered is only natural. However, concentrating only on the zoo has left the public misinformed about the huge scope of what developers ultimately intend.

NGOs, the press and government organizations all must bear responsibility for failing to fully inform the public.

Since 2002 politicians and developers have regarded the 10,000 rai at the foot of Doi Suthep in Mae Hia subdistrict as the site of a major tourism project.

The Night Safari itself is the pet project of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

In February 2002, officials began looking for a site to build the zoo. By March, Plodprasob Surasawadi, then director of the Royal Forestry Department, set up a committee and hired a company to conduct a feasibility study for building the project at the base of Doi Suthep.

However, before zoo design firm Bernard Harrison and Friends conducted a survey of the land, the committee had decided that the safari would be built there.

The committee envisioned a project covering 9,197 rai, though only 824 rai would be needed for the Night Safari. Some of that land would be used for another zoo, a panda exhibit and a park. An additional 5,000 rai would be set aside for future projects.

By the end of 2003, Prime Minister Thaksin had plans for a tourism complex that would include a cable car and a colossal stadium for elephant shows.

Problems with the exact plans for both the cable car and the stadium resulted in only the Night Safari being proposed for Cabinet approval in 2003. Despite a spate of problems, the committee settled on appropriating 10,000 rai even though it had not yet decided what would be built on it.

The committee worked backwards. Rather than deciding what to build and then determining how much land would be required, they decided to take over the property and then concocted projects for the space. Other ideas included an aviary, a tiger park and a crocodile farm.

Strange ideas have been a hallmark of the project since its inception. The weirdest perhaps was a plan to serve the meat of rare animal species, including zebra, at the Night Safari. A 50-meter high secondhand Ferris wheel was bought from the Aichi Expo in Japan for 50 million baht with no plans for where to put it.

As of today, no progress has been made on the cable car project, the elephant show stadium, the aviary, the tiger park or the crocodile farm. When the government is asked to provide details on these projects, it refuses to do so.

It would be one thing if the government had appropriated 10,000 rai of pristine forest to build a well-planned tourism complex that had the approval of the taxpayers. But the government project will destroy the forest -- an important "green lung" for the country's second largest city -- without any clear direction and without public consensus.

The long-term effects of such a move, however, have not registered with the government. Instead, it relies on the same old clich?s, hoping to turn the province into "Chiang Mai World" on the order of Disney World.

Implementing poorly planned projects that destroy the nation's resources is like robbing the people of Thailand.

The government's only aim is to make money. This single-minded vision is followed to the detriment of environmental protection, social stability and democracy.

The cable car and elephant stadium might seem like small issues, but they are indicative of a larger problem endemic to this government. Last year, other equally ill-conceived government projects, including a planned highway across the Gulf of Thailand, had to be canceled.

If the government wants its projects to succeed and meet with public approval it must remember to develop feasible ideas, consult with the public and keep the country's long-term interests at heart.

This article is based on a paper presented at a public forum on wildlife and the Chiang Mai Night Safari held at Chiang Mai University's Academic Service Center on December 26, 2005.

Influential people aiding poachers in national park
KULTIDA SAMABUDDHI CHAIWAT SADYAEM

Influential people, villagers and illegal wildlife trade operators are collaborating in the poaching of wild animals, including endangered gaur, says the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department chief. They were obviously working together to kill animals in Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, said Damrong Pidet, the department's director-general. ''Poachers need to use heavy firearms to kill these animals, which means they must be influential enough to afford such weapons,'' he said. Inquiries found these influential people hired villagers as hunting guides. Members of the hunting party would share the animals' flesh, which would be sold to restaurants. The gaur's horns would be sent to clients. Gaur, also known as krating, are native wild ox. They stand 1.7-2.2 m tall and weigh 700-1000kg. Mr Damrong said he had ordered increased forest patrols after getting a report that three gaur were killed and their heads taken as trophies last year. The patrols would stand by at salt licks, where wild animals gather. ''Villagers living adjacent to the park have also been hired to work as spies for the department. They will tell forestry officers when they learn of suspected poachers entering the forest,'' said Mr Damrong. Some of the park's entrances have also been closed to control the number of visitors as easy access to the protected forest had lead to widespread poaching. A wildlife protection group called on the department to work more closely with local villagers, who know the poachers but refuse to name them or give any information for fear of dark influence. ''These villagers live adjacent to the park and witnessed most of the illegal activities, including wildlife hunting. However, since forestry officers have rarely worked with local communities, villagers feel uncomfortable about cooperating with them,'' said Mongkol Muckkham, outreach officer of the Wildlife Fund Thailand. Sour relations between villagers and forestry officers was the major cause of weak forest protection, said Mr Mongkol. Smaller animals also at risk included deer, mouse deer, wild pigs and wild fowl. ''The department needs to overhaul the park's wildlife protection policy. Wild animals are in grave threat here,'' said Mr Mongkol, who has been working on wildlife conservation in the area for more than five years. Chonlathorn Chamnankid, chief of Kui Buri National Park, said the park was home to around 30 gaur.

Zoo plan for former refugee camp
Large pristine forest targeted in Ubon
PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

A large zoo project has been proposed for the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani by Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Wannasathit, hoping it will be able to compete with the multi-billion-baht Chiang Mai Night Safari and help boost tourism in his home province. Mr Chidchai floated the idea of turning a 3,000-rai pristine forest area in Ubon Ratchathani's Muang district into a new zoo during yesterday's CEO governor workshop.

Mr Chidchai said the new tourist attraction would be more of a nature-learning centre, where parts of the compound would feature animals from other countries. ''I have already inspected the area. It is an abundant forest which I want to preserve for Ubon Ratchathani people by turning this area into a nature-learning centre,'' he said. The targeted land plot previously housed refugees from Laos but the area is now unoccupied, he added.

Mr Chidchai, who oversees the lower northeastern provincial cluster, instructed CEO governors to improve tourism facilities and linkages between provinces in the cluster, which consists of Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, Si Sa Ket and Yasothon.

Meanwhile, 37 provincial development strategies were selected during yesterday's meeting as priority development plans of 19 provincial clusters nationwide under the 2007's CEO governors' budget of 40 billion baht.

The strategies would be presented to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today during the second CEO retreat at Government House.

The strategy for the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala would focus on the 200-million baht peace-building strategy via education system improvements and the 260-million baht Halal-food industrial centre, which aims to create jobs for local Muslims.

Mr Chidchai, who is also in charge of the southernmost provincial cluster, said the strategy would focus on improving the education system, including Thai and Malayu language teaching, religious teaching and teacher development.

More incentives, including scholarships, would also be provided for students in the deep South to encourage them to study in Thailand rather than abroad.

Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, meanwhile, suggested governors of the Andaman coastal provinces, including Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi, add cultural aspects to their tourism strategies.

He said Indonesia's Bali island used culture as the selling point for its tourist industry and this had managed to attract many visitors to the island.

''Thailand's Andaman provinces have more beautiful beaches, sand and seas than Bali, but we lack the cultural touch. If the provinces use cultural attractions for their tourism campaigns, the region will rank as the world's top tourist destination in a few years,'' he said.

He also proposed development of water transport facilities between the Andaman provinces such as construction of marinas.

Couple says 'Night Safari took our land'
Elephants, mahouts overrun fruit orchard
PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

Chiang Mai _ As villagers living near the Chiang Mai Night Safari, Dawan Saosena and her husband welcomed the 1.2-billion-baht project, hoping it would give them job opportunities and boost their income. Mrs Dawan, a villager of Ban Tong Guy, said she had planned to grow fruits and vegetables for the animals at the Night Safari, which is next door. Her husband, with work experience as a Japanese chef, wanted to open a sushi bar.

However, their dreams have been shattered. While there have been no job openings and no extra money, even worse, they have now lost their land _ the family's only property.

The couple said their eight rai of land had been occupied by elephants and mahouts who were looking for work at the Night Safari. The mahouts claimed to have permission from a senior night safari official to take the couple's land and they built three wooden huts on it.

Mrs Dawan said the elephants and mahouts ate most of the fruits in the orchard such as bananas and longan while some big trees had been cut down to build the huts.

''I was in shock and distraught. All our dreams and efforts to make a living from this orchard are completely destroyed. Now we can't even get inside our orchard because we are afraid of the strangers and their animals.

The couple have filed a complaint with local leaders and police but no action has been taken. Local leaders have told her to accept her fate while police have done nothing to investigate the case.

''We want the truth from the night safari management, which once promised us we would benefit from the project. But instead, it took our land.''

Mrs Dawan said she believed more villagers would be affected once the new elephant theme park opens. ''One elephant ravaged a vast area of land. There will be trouble if hundreds of elephants come to stay around our village,'' she said.

Supoj Methapiwat, director of the Night Safari's Animal Management Office, said the elephants in question did not belong to the Night Safari and he never gave anyone permission to take or live on the couple's land.

The official queried, however, whether the land belonged to the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park and if the couple were actually encroaching on the forest. In that case, he said, the Night Safari had nothing to do with the case.

Meanwhile, villagers living around the site designated for the Chiang Mai World have started to wonder about potential adverse effects from the mega-project. Inthorn Tipkamna, head of Ban Waen village, said his village had been free from floods until a number of resorts were built in the national park. According to the headman, there were six floods last year, causing enormous damage to people and property.

He believed the Night Safari and other activities in the Chiang Mai World project would only add to the problem since the construction blocked water passage. ''If the Chiang Mai World project is completed with ten of thousands of rai of forest to be destroyed, there is no doubt that my village won't be able to escape the flood problem because there would be no forest to absorb water run-off from the mountain.''

The mega-project would lead to conflict over natural resources, like water, while the area's garbage problem would become more serious. ''In the end, it is local people who will suffer most from these projects. We may not feel the impact now, but we surely will in the future,'' he said.

B700m elephant park for Doi-Pui
New project in national park draws critics' fire
PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

Chiang Mai _ The profitability of the Night Safari is still in doubt without the wild animals from Kenya, but the government is already embarking on a 700-million-baht elephant park as the second stage of its multi-billion-baht Chiang Mai World megaproject. The park, tipped as the biggest of its kind with more than 200 elephants, will cover 6,000 rai of land in the Doi Suthep-Pui national park, which already houses the 1.2-billion-baht Night Safari park. It is part of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's drive to turn Chiang Mai, his home province, into a world-class tourist attraction to compete with destinations like Disneyland in Hong Kong.Other developments planned for the megaproject, which will eventually absorb 23,000 rai of land in the national park, include a 500-million-baht Royal Flora Ratchaphruek exposition, a 15km cable car, an entertainment theme park, an aquarium, a spa complex and a monorail.

A 10-billion-baht total cost is estimated.

Plodprasop Suraswadi, the director of Night Safari who is also responsible for Chiang Mai World, said the elephant theme park would feature a jungle-like habitat. The animals would live in natural conditions, roaming the forest for food. An exhibition area would offer visitors comprehensive information about elephants _ the designated symbol of the nation. ''The theme park will also reproduce some history relating to elephants in Thailand, including the traditional way of catching them in the jungle,'' he said. The exact number of elephants which would roam the park is still to be settled, but there should be more than 200. They would include those now roaming city streets and so-called ''unemployed'' elephants. Others would come from nearby elephant camps, including the popular Mae Sa camp in the Mae Rim area. Mr Plodprasop said he would encourage owners of private elephant camps to co-invest in the park project. He placed particular interest on the Mae Sa elephant camp, which he claimed had caused environmental problems including pollution of the Mae Sa river.

However, the owner of the Mae Sa elephant camp said Mr Plodprasop was just being a bully. Anchalee Kalmapijit said Mr Plodprasop has smeared her name with unfair accusations without solid evidence. Earlier, she said, forestry officials scoured her establishment, trying to find unregistered wild elephants. ''The government has never supported us. That's fine. But this time, they are starting to bully us. I'm not afraid of competition as long as it is fair,'' she said. Northern conservationists said the government should review the whole Chiang Mai World project. It was much more of a problem, they said. Chaiyaphan Prapasawat, of the Love Chiang Mai Network, said the elephant park, in particular, would lead to confrontation between local villagers and the animals over land, food and water. ''Ironically, while the government tries to exploit the national park for tourism-related activities, it has driven forest dwellers from their homes,'' he said.

Mr Chaiyaphan also worried about the environmental and social effects of the elephant park, which he said would also include several adventure activities for tourists including elevated animal observation platforms, bush lodges, a suspended canopy walk, a crocodile farm, a tiger zoo and a bird tunnel.

Leading academic Thanet Charoenmuang, of Chiang Mai University's social science faculty, said the Chiang Mai World project would completely change the image of the northern province, from a charming historical and cultural site with Lanna tradition to a modern tourist town.

''Chiang Mai would soon be big and ugly like Bangkok,'' he said. ''In the end, tourists would bypass Chiang Mai for other nearby provinces like Phrae, Nan and Lampang where beauty and nature are conserved.'' Mr Thanet said the government should shift huge projects away from Chiang Mai. Lampang, for instance, was an ideal location for huge projects because it was in the centre of the northern region. It was more appropriate to put the main development in Lampang and spread other projects over other northern provinces. ''The government should take a step back and draw up a proper development plan for Chiang Mai.

''I understand that Mr Thaksin has the good intention to modernise his hometown, the same way Banharn Silpa-archa did for the province of Suphan Buri,'' Mr Thanet said. ''But it needs a genuine understanding about the real value of Chiang Mai and what is best for the province. Not just throwing megaprojects at it.''

Yongyuth stalls on aide's fate Demands intensify for Plodprasop to be fired
POST REPORTERS

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat said yesterday he needs time to study facts before deciding what to do with his maverick assistant, Plodprasop Suraswadi, who allegedly allowed his aides to assault a conservationist after a heated television debate on the Chiang Mai Night Safari last Thursday. The minister is facing intensifying demands that Mr Plodprasop be removed from all official positions involving environmental management. The call for Mr Plodprasop's removal followed accusations that several men, believed to be his close aides, assaulted Chaiyaphan Prapasawat, director of the Chiang Mai-based Community Rights Institute and a member of the Love Chiang Mai network at the end of the Thueng Look Thueng Khon talk show on Channel 9 television. Mr Plodprasop was present during the assault which was taped by the TV crew. The minister said he was not taking sides with his assistant but added that he needed more time to ensure justice for all parties involved. In the meantime, he urged all sides to wait for police probe results before making any hasty judgement. The minister said any forestry officials implicated in the assault would be punished. He also admitted the issue affected him as Mr Plodprasop's superior. The heated debate between Mr Plodprasop and Mr Chaiyaphan was re-run on Channel 9 on Tuesday night. In Chiang Mai, police were looking for two youngsters suspected of damaging the activist's pickup truck in front of his home on Tuesday night. The pickup's rear windshield was damaged by stones believed to have been thrown by the youngsters from their motorcycle. The activist expressed concern that his family had received threats following the conflict with Mr Plodprasop. He said he had decided to return to his hometown from Bangkok yesterday after receiving the news about the damage to his vehicle. Bangkok Senator Seri Suwanapanont, who sits on the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, also said the panel would be ready to look into the assault on Mr Chaiyaphan if asked to by the Law Society of Thailand. In the meantime, Chiang Mai deputy governor Pongsak Wangsamer yesterday called a meeting of the working group for the preparation of the New Year countdown and celebrations at the Chiang Mai Night Safari on the night of Dec 31. The activities, including a mini-marathon, cycling contests, concerts, animal shows and the countdown are expected to attract at least 5,000 people. But no firework display will be allowed for fear it would panic zoo animals. The Chiang Mai Night Safari, which has been open to the public for free for 37 days, will stay open all night on New Year's Eve. Also, visitors are invited to give alms to monks on New Year's Day morning

NHRC backs calls to fire Plodprasop
Charter says govt must promote free speech
MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

The National Human Rights Commission has joined a growing chorus calling for Plodprasop Suraswadi to be removed from all his official duties related to environmental management. The NHRC has piled more pressure on Mr Plodprasop, who is director of the Chiang Mai Night Safari project, assistant to the environment minister, and head of the Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta), by suggesting he might not be the right fit for supervising environmental projects. Mr Plodprasop has been in the media spotlight following accusations that several men, believed to be his close aides, assaulted Chaiyaphan Prapasawat, director of the Chiang Mai- based Community Rights Institute and a member of the Love Chiang Mai network. The assault allegedly took place at Channel 9's studio shortly after Mr Plodprasop and Mr Chaiyaphan completed a heated television debate. Critics and opponents of the night safari project say Mr Plodprasop should accept responsibility for the violent actions allegedly carried out by his aides, resulting in bodily harm to Mr Chaiyaphan. They added their calls to others appealing to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to remove Mr Plodprasop immediately from all positions he holds relating to environmental management. The NHRC pointed out that Mr Chaiyaphan had every right to voice his opinions. His freedom of speech had been violated when Mr Plodprasop stood by and allowed his aides to carry out acts of violence against Mr Chaiyaphan, the NHRC alleged. The NHRC's Sunee Chairos said the government must re-examine whether or not Mr Plodprasop is suitable enough to remain in charge of environmental management which requires respect for community rights and public participation. ''Where there is contention, it is particularly important that the person in charge must genuinely respect differences of opinion,'' she said. She said the night safari project must be reviewed and important details regarding its operations must be divulged to members of the public. Police must also arrest the men who assaulted Mr Chaiyaphan without delay, she said. Ms Sunee said many complaints had been directed towards Mr Plodprasop during his tenure as director-general of the Forest Department. She alleged that problems had also come to light in projects under Dasta, and that they had in the main bypassed the process of environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The absence of these had pitched local residents against the authorities in many lengthy disputes. She said Mr Plodprasop did not easily consider or accept differences of opinion. The alleged assault on Dec 22 showed a blatant disregard for the rule of law as it took place right before Mr Plodprasop's eyes in a public place. The government was bound by the constitution to promote free speech and public participation in policy formulation, she said. Meanwhile, Mr Chaiyaphan said many locals were uncomfortable with the idea of the night safari project. Some had had their land expropriated and turned into elephant kraal, as part of the safari project. He decided to file a complaint with the police against the men who are alleged to have assaulted him to stop people taking the law into their own hands. ''They didn't just punch me. This was a punch in the face for society and was a gross violation of human rights,'' he said.

CHIANG MAI: Activists threaten mob protests
Published on December 27, 2005

Network vows to protect North's 'cultural integrity' at all costs. The Haak Chiang Mai Network has vowed to use all necessary means, including mob protests, to stop government mega-projects in the northern city. "Chiang Mai is being destroyed by a group of powerful people who claim to love the town but are trying to turn it into a fantasy world without listening to local people," said Athachak Satayanurak, a Chiang Mai University historian. Speaking at a public hearing organised by the network, several experts slammed the government's non-transparent projects and the lack of public participation. More than 300 residents, including high school students, academics, senior citizens, activists, senators, artists and local residents, attended the meeting. Representatives of the Wildlife Fund Thailand also attended to oppose the controversial night safari project and the Chiang Mai World package of projects. "Even though funds have already been invested in some of the projects and a lot of money has been wasted, we cannot allow them to spend more to continue the mistake. We have to stop it before the projects backfire on our children," Athachak said. During the hearing, three phrases were repeated by various groups to describe the mega-projects - "top-down", "non-transparent" and "lack of public participation". The civic network criticised 14 projects with an initial investment of Bt12 billion. The figure from Chiang Mai's Chamber of Commerce is closer to Bt150 billion, including projects related to Lamphun province. "There is not a single project for cultural conservation," said Chao Duangduen na Chiang Mai, president of the Chiang Mai Cultural Council. Well-known historian and social critic Professor Nithi Eawsriwong said the government failed not only to consult the public, but also to follow the democratic mechanism. "The mega-projects will push local people away from their natural resources and lead to unskilled jobs in the tourism industry," he said. "Chiang Mai can be a tourism town, but not this way. It should be cultural-based tourism." Monk Phra Maha Sa-nga Theerasawaro said culture and the environment should be the main reasons for visiting Chiang Mai and these should be part of the national and provincial master plan. Chatchawal Thongdeelert, the network's organiser, said the health impact of the projects should also be considered because other big projects had caused lung cancer and respiratory problems among Chiang Mai residents. Economically, Athachak said the projects would benefit big investors from outside and kill off local business. Thanet Charoenmuang, a lecturer at CMU, said local residents have to fight alone to stop the projects because they cannot rely on local authorities like the governor or the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO)'s chairman, who are afraid to upset the government. Local journalist Bannaros Buakhlee said all the decisions seem to be made by Plodprasop Suraswadi, vice-minister of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. No completion dates have been set, he said, and the public has been told nothing. Kamol Sukin The Nation Chiang Mai

Activists dare Plodprasop to shoulder costs if zoo goes bust
PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

Chiang Mai _ A group of Chiang Mai activists has challenged Plodprasop Suraswadi to sign a public contract requiring that he accepts financial responsibility should the Night Safari zoo go bust. During a TV debate programme, Thueng Look Thueng Khon, on Channel 9 last month, Mr Plodprasop, who is the zoo director, had pledged to take responsibility if the project proved a flop. Chaiyaphan Prapasawat, director of the Chiang Mai-based Community Rights Institute and a member of the Love Chiang Mai network, said his group has already drawn up such a contract for Mr Plodprasop and nine non-governmental organisations, including the Seub Nakasathien Foundation, Wildlife Fund Thailand, and the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, to sign. The activist said it was highly unlikely the zoo would succeed since there was a lack of professionalism in its management as everything was up to Mr Plodprasop. Also, the fact Kenya has suspended its shipment of wild animals would make the zoo less interesting for tourists, Mr Chaiyaphan said. The activist dared Mr Plodprasop to sign the contract so as to show a more solid commitment than his verbal one. He also said civic groups would today lodge a petition with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra demanding Mr Plodprasop be removed from all official positions for ``lack of efficiency and violent behaviour'', including his jobs as assistant to the environment minister, Night Safari director, and head of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration and the National Disaster Warning Centre. Mr Plodprasop's aides allegedly assaulted Mr Chaiyaphan and a colleague following a TV debate on the Night Safari zoo on Thursday night, right in front of Mr Plodprasop and Sorayuth Suthasanachind, the host of the Thueng Look Thueng Khon programme. Prime Minister Thaksin, however, dodged reporters' questions about the call for Mr Plodprasop's dismissal, saying he was not aware of such demands. Meanwhile, Rangsrit Kanjanavanit, a conservationist doctor at Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Medicine, said animals at the Night Safari zoo were being kept in ``appalling'' conditions. Speaking at a National Wildlife Conservation Day seminar on the Night Safari zoo, Dr Rangsrit voiced concern over what he said was poor management of zoo animals there. For instance, a capybara, the largest living rodent from South America, was placed in a concrete cage with little water. These conditions were in contrast to its habitat since the capybara normally spent much of its time in water, he said. The spotlight in the monkey cages was another problem. ``The light is so strong the animals turn their backs to the visitors. They use their hands to cover their faces so as to block out the light,'' he said. Moreover, the zoo management should not allow tourists to take photographs with baby tigers since the animals were still too young. Dr Rangsrit said the animals would develop mental illnesses, like depression, if such poor management continued. ``When compared to Singapore's Night Safari, the Chiang Mai Night Safari lacks know-how about animal management,'' he said.

Thaksin takes action to save forests
Wants aerial photos taken for comparison
By Yuwadee Tunyasiri

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra plans to order aerial photos taken of forests nationwide to compare with previous versions in a bid to detect deforestation. Mr Thaksin on Friday presided, by means of video-conferencing, over the signing of a forest protection contract by provincial governors and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry representatives.

Speaking from Songkhla's Hat Yai district where he was touring flood-ravaged areas, he told the officials that information technology and satellite photos would be used to check for forest encroachment and degradation countrywide.

New aerial photos of forest areas would be taken for comparison with those taken in April before some CEO governors took office, he said. The images would show how much deforestation had taken place during different tenures.

``Provincial governors can use (state-owned) helicopters whenever they want for inspection of areas under their jurisdiction. I will order the army, air force, police and other state agencies to provide helicopters for forest inspections to ensure work efficiency,'' he said.

``We will have photos taken by satellite in 2007 which will give us a clear picture of the forest situation,'' he added.

The prime minister called for joint planning and forest protection cooperation from the governors, provincial natural resources office chiefs and local bodies.

On land problems, he explained that the new map and photos using a 1:4000 scale would be completed in March. Details of utilisation of private land, national parks and wildlife reserves would facilitate further land reform efforts, he said.

Quarrel over night zoo hits fever pitch
Published on December 24, 2005

The roiling argument over the controversial Chiang Mai Night Safari took a violent turn between zoo director Plodprasop Suras-wadi and local environmentalists when, following a televised talk show, an unidentified supporter of Plodprasop's tussled with a conservationist. Some 10 minutes after Theung Look Theung Khon finished late on Thursday night, an unidentified man punched Chaiyapan Praphasawat, director of the Chiang Mai-based Community Rights Institute, at the studio. Chaiyapan fought back. Others en-tered the fray, and when Nikhom Puttha, a member of the Wildlife Fund Thailand, tried to intervene in the fistfight another two men lunged at him. "It became a threatening situation because two of us were encircled by almost 10 of Plodpra-sop's people," Nikhom said. Plodprasop and the television show's host, Sorayuth Suthassa-najinda, both witnessed the melee. It took about 10 minutes for the programme's crew to stop the fighting. It was the third time Theung Look Theung Khon, a programme known for its controversial subject matters, had dealt with the Chiang Mai Night Safari project. Plodprasop, Chaiyapan and Nikhom were all invited to be participants. "I was shocked," Chaiyapan added. "It was beyond my expectation that such a thing could be happened in a TV studio. I am feeling threatened, unsafe and will initiate legal proceedings." For the almost two hours of the show, the debate between Plodprasop, who is also vice minister of the Environment and National Resources, and the environmentalists was often heated. Chaiyapan and Nikhom lashed out at Plodprasop for his other projects, including his decision to send Thai elephants to Australia and tigers to China. Chaiyapan later said Plodprasop and his people might have misunderstood the content of his verbal attacked against Plodprasop. At the end of the programme, Chaiyapan read out a poem by Seawrite laureate Suksira Meesomseub. The poem advocates animal rights and refers to human handlers of captive animals as "beasts". While reading out the poem, Chaiyapan repeatedly looked at Plodprasop meaningfully. Chaiyapan yesterday filed a complaint with police at Huaykwang station and said he would follow through with a lawsuit. Nikhom said Plodprasop should be more open to criticism. "He should realise he is a state official whose salary is paid from taxes and that he is running a project on public land. Therefore, he must accept public scrutiny and criticism," Nikhom said. Plodprasop was unavailable for comment yesterday. Meanwhile, Senator Nirand Pitakwatchara said the incident showed state officials failed to understand the true meaning of public participation. "[The tussle] reflects that some state officials have an authoritarian bent and do not shy away from violence," Nirand said. "Officials should be aware that they are working in the public's interest, not their own private interest. So why don't they listen to the opinion of the people?"

Activists 'assaulted by Plodprasop aides'
Tempers flare at TV debate on Night Safari
POST REPORTERS

Two conservationists yesterday complained they were assaulted by aides of Plodprasop Suraswadi, assistant to the minister of natural resources and the environment on Thursday night. Chaiyaphan Prapasawat, of the Love Chiang Mai Network, and Nikhom Puttha, of Wildlife Fund Thailand, said the incident took place after they had a heated debate with Mr Plodprasop over the controversial Night Safari project during a popular television programme, Tueng Look Tueng Khon, on Channel 9. Mr Plodprasop attended the TV programme in his capacity as director of Night Safari. The debate focussed on the export of wildlife from Kenya which was eventually suspended by a Kenyan court. As the programme was about to end, Mr Chaiyaphan read a poem, which imitated zoo animals wailing in distress at the night-time zoo. The activist said Mr Plodprasop was apparently offended by the poem, earlier published in Khao Sod newspaper. As soon as the lights were dimmed, Mr Plodprasop and his aides stormed towards the two activists who were still seated. Mr Chaiyaphan said some of the aides scolded him and pushed him in the chest. Others dragged Mr Nikhom from his seat. Before the fracas escalated, cameramen and TV crew stepped in and separated the two sides. Mr Chaiyaphan said he and Mr Nikhom would be lodging a complaint with police yesterday evening. It was unclear if Mr Plodprasop was being implicated in the complaint. The conservationist said he punched one of the men in self-defence. ''It appeared Mr Plodprasop wanted to assault me himself but his son stopped him from doing so. Why do we have an assistant to a minister with such violent behaviour?,'' said Mr Chaiyaphan. The TV crew confirmed the assault, which was tape-recorded. The crew also noted the number of Mr Plodprasop's aides was abnormally high at more than 10. Mr Plodprasop could not be reached for comment yesterday. Mr Nikhom, meanwhile, urged senior state officials to show maturity when facing enquiries from the public. He said the public had every right to learn what the state was doing, adding the Night Safari project, in particular, was questionable in many respects. Meanwhile, the Love Chiang Mai Network condemned Mr Plodprasop and his aides for their gangland-style behaviour. It also called on the TV crew who witnessed the incident to hand over their tape to authorities for further investigation. The Love Chiang Mai Network would also file a complaint with the Administrative Court, asking it to suspend the project until its environmental impact was thoroughly studied.

PM urged to scrap animal deal
YUWADEE TUNYASIRI

Leading wildlife advocate Surapon Duangkhae yesterday urged Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to revoke a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kenyan government on a wildlife import programme. He also called on the government to reveal the details of its reported pledge of 40 million baht to support Kenya's elephant conservation projects in return for the animals. Mr Surapon, secretary-general of the Wildlife Fund Thailand Foundation, said the MoU was in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which prohibits cross-border trade of listed wild animals. Trade is allowed only under exceptional conditions, such as for scientific study. Thailand is a signatory to the international pact. Conservationists working for non-governmental organisations in Kenya opposed the deal and a court in Nairobi recently passed a ruling suspending the export of 175 wild beasts to Thailand. Thailand and Kenya signed an agreement on parks and wildlife management on Nov 9, which included the establishment of a fund for training personnel. It was reported that in return for the animals, Kenya would receive expert elephant trainers and around 40 million baht to boost conservation in the country. The imported wild animals were supposed to be put on display at the Night Safari Zoo in Chiang Mai. Plodprasop Suraswadi, chairman of the government committee in charge of the Night Safari project, said the Kenyan court's ruling on the animal exports was an internal affair of the African country which would not hamper the project. He also denied that the government pledged 40 million baht for Kenya, saying this was untrue.

Letter to the editor
Sean Whyte Editor, Rainforests magazine Bath, England
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Published on December 20, 2005

After two years, questions about those illegally obtained orang-utans go unanswered. It is now two years since more than 100 highly endangered orang-utans were discovered by your authorities at Safari World in Bangkok. Some were subsequently declared "legal" by the same authorities; the majority were, however, proven to have been illegally obtained. Since then, some of the illegally obtained orang-utans have either died or disappeared. At the time of writing, more than 50 of these animals are imprisoned in government cages, when they should in fact be back in the forests of Indonesia. Another 30-plus orang-utans are being kept in cramped cages back at Safari World. All attempts, so far, to obtain any kind of explanation as to why the delay in returning the orang-utans to Indonesia have so far met with silence from your Forestry and Police departments. In the meantime, more orang-utans "disappear" (like those sent to the Lop Buri Zoo), and others die. This scandal, on top of the one involving exchanging Thai elephants for Australian animals and also your attempts to take animals from the plains of Africa for the new Chiang Mai Night Safari, is rapidly gaining Thailand the distinction of "Wildlife Trafficking Country of the World". I just thought readers might like to know this is the reputation Thailand is gaining internationally, courtesy of your prime minister. Also, does anyone know if the Night Safari has any orang-utans, and if so, where they came from?

Court will be asked to rule on safari park
Constitution breached, says civic alliance

CHEEWIN SATTHA
BKK Post 8th Dec 05

Chiang Mai - A civic group will petition the Administrative Court to suspend the opening of the Chiang Mai Night Safari park on constitutional grounds.
About 30 activists of the We Love Chiang Mai alliance yesterday gathered at the provincial hall to ask for details of the Chiang Mai World mega-project, which includes the Night Safari park. Chaiyaphan Prapasawat, who led the rally, said his group and residents affected by the Night Safari would lodge a complaint with the Administrative Court on Dec 16 seeking the suspension of the opening of the zoo, scheduled for Jan 1.

Provincial authorities have failed to provide any details of the project, he said. He said the project was unconstitutional as there had not been an environmental impact assessment (EIA). The safari park had affected local residents as about six rai of their land behind Suthep-Pui National Park had been turned into a grazing area for elephants from the park. No compensation had been given. His group had sought meetings with Night Safari director Plodprasop Suraswadi for an explanation about the project. However, Mr Plodprasop turned down their requests, saying he had to travel overseas, he said. However, Mr Plodprasop insisted the project was lawful. There had been EIA studies and the Forestry Department gave its permission for the park three years ago, he said. The Night Safari park had been declared a special tourist area for sustainable tourism and part of a national park. He said the EIA studies had already been submitted to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning.

He denied claims that the project had led to a conflict with local residents over the use of water resources. There were five reservoirs and 15 artesian wells on the project site, he said. Since the park's soft opening on Nov 16, the park had attracted more than 17,000 visitors each day in special groups. It will open officially on New Year's Day, he said.

Save the forests from corporate greed

Sanitsuda Ekachai
BKK Post 8th Dec 05

It has been a long journey. After a month-long walk from Chiang Mai, a group of villagers will arrive in Bangkok next week to rescue their forest conservation effort from being mutilated by the Thaksin government. The villagers' battles with state authorities for the right to protect their forests date back decades, however. The sore feet and fatigue they must endure right now is nothing compared with the hardships they have long been through to protect their forest homes from greedy land speculators and corrupt officials. Nor can it be compared with what is set to befall millions of poor people in the near future if the government succeeds in killing the original spirit of the draft Community Forest Bill.

If you are looking for an example of the Thaksin administration's betrayal of the people - and the Constitution - this is it. You see, when he set out to defeat the Democrats in the 2001 election, Mr Thaksin sent his team to talk to civil society groups and grassroots movements about their problems and policy proposals in order to formulate his policy campaigns.

Since community rights to co-manage forests was high on the people's movements' agenda - one which was facing a big stick from the then ruling Democrat-led government - Mr Thaksin promised to support the draft of the Community Forest Bill as the people's first effort to use their constitutional right to sponsor their own legislation. If Mr Thaksin kept the promise, the forest communities would win their decades-long battles for the right to stay in their ancestral land and to continue their conservation efforts. They would also have a say in monitoring committees from village to national levels. But that was not to be. The people's version was approved by the House of Representatives but vetoed by the Senate. The final version set to go to Parliament this month is a total betrayal of the people's will. For not only will it allow forest evictions but also bar people's participation in the monitoring process. The Long March's demand is simple: Respect our original will. Return to our original draft bill. When the villagers' reach Bangkok, they will be joined by peers from across the country as land and forest conflicts have intensified under the Thaksin administration.

According to the National Human Rights Commission, they have received 106 complaints from forest villagers as of September this year. But within the past two months, the complaints have risen to 150. These complaints, said human rights commissioner Sunee Chaiyaros, reflect long-standing problems stemming from autocratic forestry laws that rob the locals of their rights to manage their land and forests, state policies to commercialise national forests - and widespread corruption by land and forestry officials. Apparently, things have gone from bad to worse, thanks to Mr Thaksin's determination to squeeze every single baht out of Mother Nature to accelerate economic growth.

Mr Thaksin's dream of turning forests into more rubber and palm plantations, for example, have sped up massive forest clearing like wildfire. His land title deed scheme has also intensified forest encroachment. Apart from ignoring old problems, new plans are afoot to create special economic zones where all environmental laws can be overruled, and a special agency to use national parks for tourist profit. Interestingly, as many as eighteen grassroots environmentalists have been murdered under the Thaksin government. One of them was a respected monk. Another was an environmentalist of national repute. But the police failed to get any big fish. And the government could not care less.

Sawang Khiawjaidee from Chiang Mai's Fang district knows he is putting his life at risk by trying to prevent big-time orange plantation investors from destroying more forests in his hometown. But he says he has no choice."I have no faith in the government, which only thinks money and only listens to money," he said. "So if we villagers don't do it, who will?"

Sanitsuda Ekachai is Assistant Editor, Bangkok Post.

NOTORIOUS TIGER HUNTER CONVICTED TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON

WildAid Newsletter dec'05

In August, Notorious tiger hunter Yor Ngun, 57, received a seven year prison sentence from the Koh Kong court. Yor Ngun has been on conservationists' most wanted hunters list since he was first identified and interviewed by the Tiger Teams in Preah Vihear, Cambodia, in 2001. A frequent repeat offender, Ngun was first arrested by the Forestry Administration in September 2004 in Mondul Kiri, but was released after signing a contract of non-reoffense. Forestry Administration South West Elephant Corridor (SWEC) officer Ung Neath finally apprehended Ngun on March 29, 2005 in Koh Kong and was taken to jail for transporting 25 bear jaws and 82 bear nails. Yor Ngun is known to have tracked and killed 19 tigers, 40 leopards, 30 elephants, 500 gaur, banteng and sambar, 40 Malayan sun bears and 3 Asiatic bears in over ten provinces. Yor's conviction concluded that he had killed "many endangered species" and gave the prison sentence based on Article 97, paragraph 10 of the Forestry Law.

Forestry Administration officers have sharpened investigation skills and strengthened law enforcement capacity thanks to support from conservation NGOs. The Tiger Teams, a joint project between the Wildlife Protection Office and CAT Treasury, have identified major hunters and wildlife traders throughout the country; the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (formerly the Wilderness Protection Mobile Unit), a joint venture between the Forestry Administration and WildAid, has built a database of 700 traders and has rescued over 28,000 live wild animals. WWF, WCS, CI and WildAid are supporting park protection programs in Mondul Kiri and Koh Kong where they provide Forestry Administration officers with on-going capacity building for ranger patrolling and court prosecutions.


WILDLIFE INTERPOL AIMS TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
WildAid Newsletter Dec '05

Senior Officials from ten Southeast Asian nations have launched a new regional law enforcement network that will target criminals and syndicates involved in the lucrative and illegal wildlife trade.

Southeast Asia has long been considered a "hotspot" in this global trade, targeted by criminals for its rich biodiversity and its trade links to local consumers.  Environmental and law enforcement officials from around the region have reported increased networking among criminal traders operating across Asia's borders, smuggling enormous quantities of rare and endangered species of plants and animals into and out of the region.

Recognizing the enormity of the problem and its organized criminal connections, experts from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) met with law enforcement officers from the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and the United States in northeastern Thailand's Khao Yai National Park to lay the groundwork for a network to combat the problem.  The plan calls on each participating country to assign interagency "task forces" or "committees" made up of police, customs and environmental authorities to clamp down on wildlife smuggling.  It also calls on each country to nominate a "focal point" within their task force, which can send and receive intelligence passed from one country to the other relating to cross border criminal activities.  The name of this new regional network is "ASEAN-WEN" (Wildlife Enforcement Network).

"By creating ASEAN-WEN, we are all giving our children and future generations the chance to inherit a Southeast Asia that is still rich in biodiversity and natural beauty," said Yongyuth Tiyapairat, Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.  "ASEAN-WEN took time to design, and now we must go to work immediately toward its implementation," he added.

"What this will mean is that these guys are going to start scaring some major wildlife traffickers out of business," said Steve Galster, WildAid Regional Director in Thailand. "They have been running roughshod over environmental agencies in Southeast Asia for too long."

Thailand has offered to host the first of what are expected to be a series of regional law enforcement planning meetings and training courses involving CITES, police and customs officers from each ASEAN nation. "We can reduce criminal wildlife trafficking as soon as we get all the agencies working more closely together," said Dr. Schwann Tunhikorn, Thailand's Senior CITES official. "Once interagency and cross border cooperation starts working, I believe we will see a gradual, then serious reduction in wildlife crimes."

In support of this commitment by ASEAN Countries, the United States Government, the Secretariats of ASEAN and CITES, as well as two non-government organizations WildAid and TRAFFIC, have offered their assistance to the new network.  USAID has given WildAid a three year grant to provide law enforcement training and encourage regional cooperation among the task forces.

Project seen as model to end elephant raids
BKK Post 06 Dec 2005

Prachuap Khiri Khan _ A project aimed at preventing wild elephants raiding crops on farms adjoining Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan has been so successful it will be proposed as a model for use throughout the country. Nitisak Toniti, assistant coordinator of the project, said in the past two years research staff had been sent to communities near the Tanaosri Range to listen to farmers whose crops had been invaded by elephants. The raids on pineapple plantations had led to confrontations between the animals and growers.

Mr Nitisak said he would urge the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department to adopt his project's strategy for use wherever there is a similar elephant problem.

Surapon Duangkhae, secretary general of the Wildlife Fund Thailand Foundation, said human activities like poaching were the root cause of the problem. Kui Buri had plenty of food, but the forest had been disturbed by poachers, he said. This had forced the elephants to seek safer habitat.

Conservationists unconvinced by backtrack on exotic fare at Night Safari
Pennapa Hongthong, The Nation
Published on November 20, 2005

Chiang Mai Night Safari director Plodprasop Suraswadi is still being viewed with suspicion by conservationists even though he has stepped back from his plan to serve exotic meats in the zoo's restaurant. Surapol DuangKhae, secretary-general of Wildlife Fund Thailand, said there was nothing to guarantee that Plodprasop's "exotic" idea to serve dishes made from wild-animal meats including zebra, giraffe, crocodile and dog would not be revived."It is useless [for Plodprasop] to say [he will review the idea] unless he discloses all the plans related to the Night Safari and other animal projects in Chiang Mai," Surapol said. He said that even now nobody had been given a picture of the zoo or the display of animals or an idea of what kind of activities would be laid on for visitors. He demanded more transparency in the project. Plodprasop, the vice minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said on Friday he would review the exotic-dishes idea after a storm of criticism from wildlife-protection organisations in Thailand and abroad. He said he was an "open-minded" person who listened to comment.

A source involved in the Night Safari project yesterday told The Nation there would be five eateries in different styles to cater to everyone. The source said one would be a "six-star" restaurant in which only "extraordinary" dishes would be served. The source said "extraordinary" did not mean wild-animal meats - the menu will be finalised early next year - and a high-end Thai restaurateur had been engaged to manage the establishment.


Plodprasop to review exotic meats on menu
Director steps back after harsh criticism
Preeyanat Phanayanggoor - BKK Post 19th Nov

Harsh public criticism has forced Plodprasop Suraswadi, the flamboyant project director of the Chiang Mai Night Safari Park, to step back from his proposal to put exotic wildlife meats on the menu at a restaurant in the park. Mr Plodprasop, who is also assistant to the minister of natural resources and environment, yesterday promised to review the choice of exotic meats to be served following a study. He said the decision would be based on whether diners were interested in eating the animals, whether or not the serving of some animal meats would tarnish the image of the night safari, and whether Thai society could accept the consumption of wild animal meats. "I am open-minded and listening to all comments, particularly the constructive ones such as those made by some youths after watching zebra meat being served at one of the restaurants, but not the protest by some animal activists who did it for publicity," Mr Plodprasop said. The idea of serving exotic dishes made from wild animal meats such as zebra, giraffe, crocodile and dog has attracted strong criticism from all sectors of society. Mr Plodprasop defended the exotic menu as nothing unusual as the meats are served worldwide including in Kenya, which had a restaurant called the Carnival offering similar exotic dishes. A group of animal lovers yesterday handed a petition to Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop to demand that the serving of the wildlife meat buffet be halted inside the park. Siri Wangboonkerd, a former Thai Rak Thai MP and chairman of an animal conservation foundation, said offering wildlife meat would project a negative image of Thailand in terms of animal conservation, and particularly cruelty to dogs, which were considered man's most loyal pets. He said serving dog meat inside the night safari park would imply that the government supported the idea of eating dogs despite its earlier crackdown on dog slaughterhouses in Sakon Nakhon's Tha Rae district. "The offering of dog and other wild animal meats would also go against the idea of zoos, which aim at promoting wildlife conservation. "It would also make young people look at these animals as food rather than as being creatures that deserve love and care,' Mr Siri said. He warned that if the wild meat menu was still on offer inside the park by New Year's Day, his foundation and other animal lovers and groups would launch a nationwide campaign to urge the public not to visit the night safari park. Nida Nikornpan, a member of Save Our Strays group and a Chiang Mai resident, said the exotic menu was a "humiliation to Chiang Mai people and the country as a whole". "Don't we have enough pork, chicken and beef to eat? Why do you want to eat dogs? Chiang Mai will soon be known worldwide for eating dogs and wild animals instead of its culture and beautiful nature," she said.

Plan for exotic menu called 'barbaric'
The Nation
Publish on November, 18 2005

Social critics and environmental activists have pronounced the "exotic menus" that the Chiang Mai Night Safari plans to offer, a grotesque reversal of the worldwide trend to protect wild species. Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who is also the president of the Thailand Environment Institute, said yesterday that while some parts of Thai society had been working hard to campaign for conservation, others were acting in a way that eroded their good work. He made the comments while presiding over the award-presentation dinner for the seventh Green Globe Awards 2005, which are handed out to media bodies as well as individuals and communities who have contributed outstanding work in the fields of the environment and conservation. "Any individual or group who acts in any way that damages nature or the environment will ultimately reap the consequences," Anand said. He also said that as well as highlighting the excellent work being done with the Green Globe award, he wished to point to and condemn those individuals practising damaging behaviour. "There has been a worldwide trend for conservation that has attempted to stop the consumption of wild animals and focus on conservation, so he (Plodprasop) must explain to the public what is happening in our society," Anand said in his condemnation of zoo project director Plodprasop Suraswadi's idea to offer a daily buffet of "wild" cuisine in the zoo's Vareekunchorn restaurant for Bt4,500 a head. Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of the Chai Pattana Foundation who was a speaker at the event said that when people see the Earth and nature itself as merchandise, it signals morally desolate times. Nikhom Phutta, an official at the Wildlife Fund Thailand, said the idea would destroy the identity of Chiang Mai, which relies on its unique culture and natural beauty and is often referred to as a land of gentility and generosity. He added that the state officer whose duty it is to conserve the environment was actively promoting the "barbaric idea" in the blinkered pursuit of money. When the idea for the "wild menus" comes to the attention of the rest of the world, it will destroy the country's image as a member of Cites, Nikhom said. Plodprasop yesterday explained that he had adopted the idea from some game parks and farms in Africa that offer wildlife for their patrons' consumption. He added that he wanted to import the wild animal meats, which include zebra and jungle bull from such farms for special occasions. He also said that the idea of providing crocodile and dog meat was not that unusual, as the meats were already available in the country.

Night Safari plans to serve up exotic fare
The Nation
PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR Chiang Mai

Wild animal meats set for restaurant's menu. Looking for a taste of life on the wild side? If so, it seems Chiang Mai Night Safari Park may be able to whet your appetite with its plans to serve up a range of exotic fare in one of the park's five restaurants. Plodprasop Suraswadi, chairman of the government committee in charge of the Night Safari project, said visitors to the park would have an opportunity to try several kinds of wild animal meats. He said one of the park's restaurants would offer exotic dishes ranging from imported zebra meat from Africa, Thai crocodile meat, snake and mongoose blood, as well as dog meat from Sakon Nakhon province and various kinds of insects. An exotic set meal, cooked by professional foreign chefs, would cost around 4,500 baht. Mr Plodprasop said the menu would be changed often to offer greater variety. Meanwhile, another restaurant within the park will operate under the concept of ``Made in Chiang Mai''. All food and drinks served in the restaurant would use raw materials and ingredients made in Chiang Mai. A restaurant has been designed specifically for tour groups, while another ``regular'' restaurant would offer up standard dishes at reasonable prices. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday finally presided over the opening ceremony of the Night Safari Park after an eight-month delay. The park will not officially be open to members of the public until New Year's Day. Northern-style floating lanterns greeted Mr Thaksin on his visit to the zoo. However, the messages they carried were far from positive, protesting his development projects in the province. A civic group called Hug Muang Chiang Mai distributed leaflets to people, urging them to have a hand in developing the province. Located on 819 rai in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Muang district's tambon Suthep and Hang Dong district's tambon Nong Khwai, the night safari is made up of three zones _ the Jaguar Trail, the Savannah Safari and the Predator Prowl _ as well as offering elephant rides, a musical fountain and jumping water jet shows. The zoo now has 726 animals, made up of 103 species, mostly purchased or exchanged domestically through the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. The park recently secured a deal with Kenya for 135 wild animals amid protests from animal rights activists. Mr Plodprasop said private firms had already donated 12 million baht for a newly-established fund, set up by the private sector, to finance taking care of the animals in the future. It is expected to grow to 50 million baht. During his visit, Mr Thaksin also met local businessmen. He discussed future development plans for the province, and invited Bangkok-based ambassadors to provide their ideas for modernisation.

Chiang Mai Night Safari