While bureaucrats shuffle their feet, endangered apes are left to die in Thailand

[Guest guest]

While bureaucrats shuffle their feet, endangered apes are left to die in

Thailand

 

The Nation - Bangkok - February 21, 2006

 

Re: " King asked to intervene in orang-utan case " , News, February 17.

 

The article on the confiscated orang-utans shows that many people worldwide

are still following the case of the smuggled apes, although within Thailand

there seems to be hardly any interest in this scandal. This case is

considered the world's biggest illegal wildlife case involving great apes.

It has been almost two years since the owner of Safari World confessed to

the illegal possession of the orang-utans to the commander of the Forestry

Police, Major-General Sawaek Pinsinchai, and almost 1,000 days since the

initial raid on Safari World.

 

It is a complete mystery as to what will happen to the confiscated apes.

Will they be returned to Indonesia as stipulated by the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) of which Thailand is a

signatory; or will they end up in substandard zoos around the country to

attract visitors? Strangely enough, five have recently been " borrowed " by

the Chiang Mai Night Safari and another five given to the Lop Buri Zoo.

 

Soon, there will be only a few, if any, left to repatriate; over the last

two years, more than 22 of the 75 orang-utans have died or disappeared from

both Safari World and wildlife slaughterhouses in Saraburi and Sai Noi

district of Nonthaburi.

 

The deputy-general of the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and

Plants (DNP) claims to be working closely with his Indonesian and Malaysian

counterparts on this matter, yet the Cites office in Jakarta says they

posted their demand to return the apes more than a year ago and have

received no response, despite issuing import permits for repatriation.

 

Over the past 10 years, the illegal trade in wildlife has grown

exponentially throughout Thailand. DNP and forestry officials have been

aware for several years that Safari World was collecting orang-utans in

large numbers and did not act on any complaints. Her Majesty the Queen asked

for a crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade on her birthday, August 12,

2003, following which Maj-General Sawaek undertook a raid on the zoos and

slaughterhouses, uncovering this scandal further. Yet in late 2004, the

director-general of the DNP informed the Forestry Police commander that he

felt no laws had been broken, and the orang-utans should stay with Safari

World. If more time is lost, help will be too late for the orang-utan

babies.

 

Edwin Wiek

and founder, Wildlife Friends of Thailand;

 

Thailand representative, cross-border trade in orang-utans, Borneo

Orang-utan Survival Foundation

 

Bangkok