Heifer Project

[Guest guest]

In Thailand much of our wildlife is being destroyed by people living or near the forests. These are sometimes Thai people, but often appear to be ethnic groups such as Karens, Muser, Hmong etc. The excuse for their behaviour is that they are poor and have nothing else to eat, which in most cases I doubt. They hunt and sell wild animal parts and baby animals such as Bears, Serow, Gibbon, Macaques, all kinds of deer, snakes, birds.

 

We have suggested to Christian Missionaries that seem to control some of the ethnic people that the provision of "seed" animals such as pigs, chickens, ducks would eliminate the need for hunting and would remove the excuse that they have no food. There have been 2 responses. The ethnic people like eating these animals and we (the missionaries) are here to save souls, not animals.

 

The answer would be to persuade these people to become vegetarians and in fact there are some Karen groups who are vegetarian. But its not easy to change a way of life and while trying to change it the wild animals are dying.

 

Does anyone have other ideas?

 

Leonie