Guest guest Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Hello Subhobroto, Azam, I met with the minister of forestry in November 2005 in Assam and visited the zoo as well as we heard that Thai officials of the zoo authority visited the Guwahati zoo earlier that year to discuss an animal swap. I explained to them that the orangutans offered by the zoo in Thailand were illegally obtained animals, confiscated from slaughterhouses (3) and others were " donated (2) by illegal owners. The minister assured me that they would never allow the import of such animals as they should be returned to their country of origin. (The minister said during that meeting that he wanted illegally exported wildlife from India returned as well. We can now see that the Indian government does not care where the " merchandise " comes from, as long as it " sells " . Make it very clear; these orangutans were poached from Borneo and illegally shipped to Thailand. Anyone accepting these animals is taking in stolen goods as payment for other animals. Edwin Wiek WFFT www.wfft.org <http://www.wfft.org/> _____ aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of Tuesday, 20 March, 2007 23:54 azam24x7 Cc: aapn Thai Orang Utans for Guwahati Zoo Dear Azam, Many thanks for bringing this news item to our attention. Guwahati Zoo had tried to bring in Orang Utans from Thailand a few years ago too. One might be pardoned for being sceptical of the motives of Guwahati Zoo since they have been bereft of great apes for many years and Orang Utans are surefire crowd pullers. They, of course, are reciting a conservation parable so that the zoo director can be garlanded in front of the media when the animals arrive. The Species Survival Network has expressed its concern over this move and I attach a response from Ms Ann Michels: Dear Mr. Ghosh, Thank you very much for alerting us to this zoo swap. We have sent an alert to our Members, along with the news article, requesting that they send letters to the Central Zoo Authority. I'm sure we will have a good response. We will also prepare a letter from our own organization. I will be sure to send you a copy. With best wishes, Ann Species Survival Network 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA Tel: +1-301-548-7769, Fax: +1-202-318-0891 info <info%40ssn.org> It is heartening to note that the Species Survival Network is concerned about this move since it is a consortium of many organisations and their concern may in turn, imply, the concern of many other organisations. It would be appropriate if we start start writing to the following to request this deal to be put under the scanner: His Excellency Mr. Chirasak Thanesnant, Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi Email : thaidel (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaidel%40mfa.go.th> go.th Mr. Wanna Pherngmak , Royal Thai Consulate-General , Kolkata Email: thaiccu (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaiccu%40mfa.go.th> go.th Miss Madurapochana Ittarong , Royal Thai Consulate-General, Mumbai , thaimub (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaimub%40mfa.go.th> go.th Mr. Suphot Yanthukij , Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chennai , thaicnn (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaicnn%40mfa.go.th> go.th All Thai embassy contacts in India here: http://www.thaiemb. <http://www.thaiemb.org.in/community/thai_government_agencies.asp> org.in/community/thai_government_agencies.asp It would also be appropriate to write to the Thai embassies in Britain and US: *Royal Thai Embassy London 29 - 30 Queen's Gate London SW7 5JB Service Hours : *Monday - Friday 9.30 AM - 12.30* *PM* Tel : *020-7589-2944 Ext. 5502-5507* Fax :* 020-7823-7492 * csinfo@thaiembassyu <csinfo%40thaiembassyuk.org.uk> k.org.uk * Royal Thai Embassy in US, Washington, DC: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 401, Washington, D.C. 20007 For Thai embassies in all other countries, link here : http://www.thaiemba <http://www.thaiembassy.org/> ssy.org/ It would also be very pertinent and relevant to bring this issue to the notice of the Great Ape Survival Project(GRASP) of the United Nations. Contact: Melanie Virtue, GRASP Team Leader Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP) Secretariat United Nations Environment Programme P.O. Box 30552, 00100 Tel: +254 20 762 4163 Fax: +254 20 762 3926 Nairobi, KENYA Email: grasp <grasp%40unep.org> Website : http://www.unep. <http://www.unep.org/grasp/> org/grasp/ Please also consider writing to these people in India beacuse they bear responsibility for this deal in India: *The Secretary *Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road *New Delhi - 110 003. (INDIA). * Telephone:+91-11-24361147 E-mail: envisect (AT) nic (DOT) <envisect%40nic.in> in <envisect (AT) nic (DOT) <envisect%40nic.in> in?subject=Response+from+MoEF+Website> The Member Secretary : Central Zoo Authority Annexe-VI, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110011 Phone # 91-011-23381585,23073072,23070375 Fax # 91-011-23386012 cza <cza%40nic.in> NEW!!! cza. <cza%40ndf.vsnl.net.in> net.in The origin of these Orang Utans in Thailand has been a matter of debate for a long time and should be looked into carefully before any Thai zoo enters any negotiation with any other institution anywhere in the world. Also since the Great Ape project speaks out against Great Ape captivity altogether it might be worth writing to them as well :l:info@greatapeprojec <info%40greatapeproject.org> t.org There is very useful information on the Orang Utans in Thailand on the website of Monkey World. Link here: http://www.monkeywo <http://www.monkeyworld.co.uk/topic.php?TopicID=45 & Template=standard> rld.co.uk/topic.php?TopicID=45 & Template=standard The overhwelming majority of zoo exchange programmes are shady and zoos endeavour to make them respectable by putting on a veneer of 'scientific' acronyms. This seems to be a very highly questionable deal and needs to be tackled in the here and now. There are other organisations who might be of help but these contacts would serve as a good starting point. Please draft a press release and send it across quickly, it could be circulated when necessary. Is People For Animals doing anything on this in Assam? Many thanks again for bringing this proposed deal to light. Your efforts to help the creatures of North East India are much appreciated. Thanks. Best wishes and kind regards, > Link: http://www.telegrap <http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070320/asp/guwahati/story_7538075.asp> hindia.com/1070320/asp/guwahati/story_7538075.asp > > > Zoo nod to animal swap- Thailand to give 10 animals & a bird for a rhino > > A STAFF REPORTER > > March 19: Under the animal exchange plan, the state zoo will hand over a > male > rhino and receive two clouded leopards, five orang-utans, one > stump-tailed macaque and three binturongs. > > > Recent Activity > > - 6 > > > . > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 It is apparent that a lot of people are working on this issue and there is a possibility that the Orang Utan deal might be called off. Whilst the plight of the Orang Utans is important, it should also be remembered that the other animals deserve equal attention. Guwahati Zoo had Binturongs and all of them died. There were also several Clouded Leopards. Very possibly Stump tailed Macaques as well. The predicament of these animals should also be looked into. Any information on the particular Thai zoos that are involved in this deal would be highly appreciated. They don't seem to be too scrupulous. I have informed WAZA(World Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums) but am not holding my breath for them to act, since they have been complicit in many a similar fraudulent deal in the past, notably the Taiping Zoo gorilla importation. Best to explore other avenues and glad to note they are being tapped. On 22 Mar 2007 07:28:39 -0700, Edwin Wiek <edwin.wiek wrote: > > Hello Subhobroto, Azam, > > I met with the minister of forestry in November 2005 in Assam and visited > the zoo as well as we heard that Thai officials of the zoo authority > visited > the Guwahati zoo earlier that year to discuss an animal swap. > > I explained to them that the orangutans offered by the zoo in Thailand > were > illegally obtained animals, confiscated from slaughterhouses (3) and > others > were " donated (2) by illegal owners. The minister assured me that they > would > never allow the import of such animals as they should be returned to their > country of origin. (The minister said during that meeting that he wanted > illegally exported wildlife from India returned as well. > > We can now see that the Indian government does not care where the > " merchandise " comes from, as long as it " sells " . > > Make it very clear; these orangutans were poached from Borneo and > illegally > shipped to Thailand. Anyone accepting these animals is taking in stolen > goods as payment for other animals. > > Edwin Wiek > > WFFT > > www.wfft.org <http://www.wfft.org/> > > _____ > > aapn <aapn%40> [ > aapn <aapn%40>] On Behalf Of > > Tuesday, 20 March, 2007 23:54 > azam24x7 > Cc: aapn <aapn%40> > Thai Orang Utans for Guwahati Zoo > > Dear Azam, > Many thanks for bringing this news item to our attention. > Guwahati Zoo had tried to bring in Orang Utans from Thailand a few years > ago > too. One might be pardoned for being sceptical of the motives of Guwahati > Zoo since they have been bereft of great apes for many years and Orang > Utans > are surefire crowd pullers. They, of course, are reciting a conservation > parable so that the zoo director can be garlanded in front of the media > when > the animals arrive. > The Species Survival Network has expressed its concern over this move and > I > attach a response from Ms Ann Michels: > Dear Mr. Ghosh, > > Thank you very much for alerting us to this zoo swap. We have sent an > alert to our Members, along with the news article, requesting that they > send letters to the Central Zoo Authority. I'm sure we will have a good > response. > > We will also prepare a letter from our own organization. I will be sure > to send you a copy. > > With best wishes, > Ann > > Species Survival Network > 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA Tel: +1-301-548-7769, Fax: > +1-202-318-0891 > info <info%40ssn.org> <info% <info%25>40ssn.org> > > It is heartening to note that the Species Survival Network is concerned > about this move since it is a consortium of many organisations and their > concern may in turn, imply, the concern of many other organisations. > > It would be appropriate if we start start writing to the following to > request this deal to be put under the scanner: > His Excellency Mr. Chirasak Thanesnant, > > Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi > > Email : thaidel (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaidel% <thaidel%25>40mfa.go.th> go.th > > Mr. Wanna Pherngmak , Royal Thai Consulate-General , Kolkata Email: > thaiccu (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaiccu% <thaiccu%25>40mfa.go.th> go.th > > Miss Madurapochana Ittarong , Royal Thai Consulate-General, Mumbai , > thaimub (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaimub% <thaimub%25>40mfa.go.th> go.th > > Mr. Suphot Yanthukij , Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chennai , > thaicnn (AT) mfa (DOT) <thaicnn% <thaicnn%25>40mfa.go.th> go.th > > All Thai embassy contacts in India here: > http://www.thaiemb. > <http://www.thaiemb.org.in/community/thai_government_agencies.asp> > org.in/community/thai_government_agencies.asp > > It would also be appropriate to write to the Thai embassies in Britain and > US: > > *Royal Thai Embassy London > 29 - 30 Queen's Gate London SW7 5JB > Service Hours : *Monday - Friday 9.30 AM - 12.30* *PM* > Tel : *020-7589-2944 Ext. 5502-5507* Fax :* 020-7823-7492 * > csinfo@thaiembassyu <csinfo% <csinfo%25>40thaiembassyuk.org.uk> > k.org.uk * > > Royal Thai Embassy in US, Washington, DC: > > 1024 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 401, > > Washington, D.C. 20007 > > For Thai embassies in all other countries, link here : > > http://www.thaiemba <http://www.thaiembassy.org/> ssy.org/ > > It would also be very pertinent and relevant to bring this issue to the > notice of the Great Ape Survival Project(GRASP) of the United Nations. > > Contact: > > Melanie Virtue, GRASP Team Leader > Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP) Secretariat > United Nations Environment Programme > P.O. Box 30552, 00100 > Tel: +254 20 762 4163 > Fax: +254 20 762 3926 > Nairobi, KENYA > Email: grasp <grasp%40unep.org> <grasp% <grasp%25> > 40unep.org> > > Website : http://www.unep. <http://www.unep.org/grasp/> org/grasp/ > > Please also consider writing to these people in India beacuse they bear > responsibility for this deal in India: > > *The Secretary > *Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests > Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road > *New Delhi - 110 003. (INDIA). * > Telephone:+91-11-24361147 > E-mail: envisect (AT) nic (DOT) <envisect% <envisect%25>40nic.in> in < > envisect (AT) nic (DOT) > <envisect% <envisect%25>40nic.in> > in?subject=Response+from+MoEF+Website> > The Member Secretary : > Central Zoo Authority > Annexe-VI, Bikaner House, > Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110011 > > Phone # 91-011-23381585,23073072,23070375 > Fax # 91-011-23386012 > > cza <cza%40nic.in> <cza% <cza%25>40nic.in> NEW!!! > cza <cza%40ndf.vsnl>. <cza% <cza%25>40ndf.vsnl.net.in> > net.in > > The origin of these Orang Utans in Thailand has been a matter of debate > for > a long time and should be looked into carefully before any Thai zoo enters > any negotiation with any other institution anywhere in the world. Also > since > the Great Ape project speaks out against Great Ape captivity altogether it > might be worth writing to them as well :l:info@greatapeprojec > <info% <info%25>40greatapeproject.org> t.org > > There is very useful information on the Orang Utans in Thailand on the > website of Monkey World. Link here: > http://www.monkeywo > <http://www.monkeyworld.co.uk/topic.php?TopicID=45 & Template=standard> > rld.co.uk/topic.php?TopicID=45 & Template=standard > The overhwelming majority of zoo exchange programmes are shady and zoos > endeavour to make them respectable by putting on a veneer of 'scientific' > acronyms. This seems to be a very highly questionable deal and needs to be > tackled in the here and now. > There are other organisations who might be of help but these contacts > would > serve as a good starting point. > Please draft a press release and send it across quickly, it could be > circulated when necessary. Is People For Animals doing anything on this in > Assam? > Many thanks again for bringing this proposed deal to light. Your efforts > to > help the creatures of North East India are much appreciated. > Thanks. > Best wishes and kind regards, > > > > > Link: http://www.telegrap > <http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070320/asp/guwahati/story_7538075.asp> > hindia.com/1070320/asp/guwahati/story_7538075.asp > > > > > > Zoo nod to animal swap- Thailand to give 10 animals & a bird for a rhino > > > > A STAFF REPORTER > > > > March 19: Under the animal exchange plan, the state zoo will hand over a > > male > > rhino and receive two clouded leopards, five orang-utans, one > > stump-tailed macaque and three binturongs. > > > > > > Recent Activity > > > > - 6 > > > > > > . > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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