Guest guest Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Elephant export plan hits snag Bangkok Post APINYA WIPATAYOTIN Wednesday August 30, 2006 The Chiang Mai Night Safari zoo's plan to export five elephants to China hit a snag yesterday after the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department decided not to issue an export licence due to unclear explanations about the origin of the animals. Department chief Damrong Pidet made the decision after his meeting with the owner of the five elephants in Surin. ''It has not been made clear to me about the origin of these elephants. I can't check their mothers' whereabouts. So, I don't approve a licence for the Chiang Mai Night Safari,'' he said. According to the Wildlife Protection Act, only elephants born in captivity can be sent to other countries provided their export is for research purposes on a government-to-government basis only. The Night Safari zoo was not available for comment yesterday. The zoo's plan to export the elephants has been attacked by conservationists who fear it could put the country's elephant population in danger of extinction. Somroj Khukitikasem, an elephant trader in this northeastern province who was contacted by the Night Safari to supply the elephants, said he had sold the young elephants without realising that their final destination would be in China. He also presented documents issued by the National Institute of Animal Health showing how he had obtained the elephants. But the papers gave neither the history nor names of their parents. Yongyut Pralehrum, a former deputy chief of Surin's Muang district, insisted that the certificates for the elephants were legally issued. ''I checked all required documents. When all the information was correct, I signed the certificates. Everything I did was in line with the law,'' he said. Mr Damrong said it was very difficult to verify the birthplaces of elephants because they were often traded through many hands. This happened because relevant laws had not been effectively enforced, he said. There was an urgent need to revise regulations concerning elephants in order to prevent illegal sales of the animals, he added. http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/30Aug2006_news09.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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