Elephants welcome in Australia...

[Guest guest]

Thai elephants to be allowed in

 

 

February 6, 2006 - 4:19PM

 

Eight Asian elephants will find their new Australian homes equipped with

closed circuit television, a range of natural bedding and mud wallows to aid

in their psychological wellbeing.

 

Animal welfare groups and both Melbourne and Sydney's Taronga zoos claimed

victory on Monday after the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) approved

the animals' importation from Thailand.

 

However, animal conservationists in Thailand are unhappy at the unsuccessful

outcome of their campaign to keep these animals in their country.

 

Monday's AAT decision follows months of legal wrangling between the

Australian government and the animal groups, which led to an interim finding

in December in favour of the importation but on conditions including the

provision of suitable flooring, mud wallows and earth mounds.

 

In July, the government had approved the importation of the endangered

elephants, which were raised in Thai camps, for a breeding and conservation

program.

 

Five of the elephants are to go to a new, $40 million purpose-built

enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, and the other three to Melbourne Zoo.

 

The AAT on Monday decided the animals could come to Australia but set 22

conditions for the elephants at Taronga Zoo and 18 for those to go to

Melbourne Zoo.

 

Both zoos will have to install CCTV in the animals' barns and outside areas

" in order to observe the behaviour of the elephants and ... assist in their

comfort and welfare " , although the tribunal ruled this should not be

broadcast on a live webcam.

 

In addition, a minimum of two mud wallows should be set up at each zoo and a

minimum of two loose earth mounds established.

 

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) campaigns officer Rebecca Brand

said IFAW, RSPCA Australia and the Humane Society International (HSI), which

launched the appeal, all welcomed the decision.

 

" Yes, the animals will be coming, but we have vastly improved their welfare

as a result of this case, " Ms Brand said.

 

While welcoming the decision, Taronga Zoo chief executive Guy Cooper said

the elephants would be no better off as a result of the ruling because the

zoo had already planned to introduce the extra measures.

 

" It (the legal action) has been a usage of well-meaning people's funds (but)

.... in such a way that it has not been helpful for wildlife and I think that

is a great shame, " Mr Cooper said.

 

Zoos Victoria, the representative body for zoos in that state, said the

decision was a huge vote of confidence.

 

Chief executive Laura Mumaw said: " The tribunal has endorsed the concern and

commitment of our zoos regarding the welfare of the elephants, and

acknowledged that the zoos have the expertise required to give them the best

of care. "

 

The elephants are now housed in a camp at Mahidol University's Veterinary

school near Say Yok, close to Thailand's border with Burma.

 

They are expected to arrive in Australia in about August after a three-month

quarantine in the Cocos Islands.