baby elephants have recently been smuggled to Germany

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From the NATION - Bangkok

 

Ex-minister to face smuggling charge

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At least five Thai baby elephants have recently been smuggled to Germany, a

senior official at the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Department revealed yesterday.

 

The transportation was carried out at the beginning of the year by people

claming to represent officials " in high places " , said Dulasit Sanitwongsa na

Ayuthaya, a wildlife expert at the department.

 

 

In other incidents, 20 elephants, all younger than nine, were smuggled to

China and another eight were shipped to Australia, Dulasit said.

 

 

 

He was visiting a wildlife breeding centre in Ratchaburi, where a

five-year-old elephant was being cared for after it was rescued from

smugglers.

 

 

 

Those involved with elephant smuggling included a former minister and many

bureaucrats working for agencies concerned with wildlife issues, Dulasit

said.

 

 

 

The department was taking legal action against them and contacting the

countries in an effort to bring the smuggled beasts home under the

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, he added.

 

 

 

It is illegal to export young elephants and most came from centres in

Ayutthaya province, Dulasit said.

 

 

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