RE: (TH) Orangutans in Thailand

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately the Jakarta Post published a letter that they shortened taking out

the most important points. Hereunder my letter to the Jakarta Post as it was

sent out:

 

 

Orangutans in Thailand

 

I would like to respond to the accusations of Mr. Sean Whyte in your readers

forum and letters to the post regarding the confiscated orangutans in

Thailand. It is disappointing to see such an unfounded and grossly

inaccurate account from someone that is supposed to be working with others to

protect and conserve wildlife. Mr. Whyte says the park authorities have been

tight-lipped on the outcome of the DNA check, this is not true as they

already in May have concluded that the orangutans were all from different

strings of DNA and were not born in captivity. At this moment only two countries

can claim origin, namely Indonesia and Malaysia. Neither one of these countries

has till now claimed ownership. The Thai authorities have told us they are

willing to send the orangutans home soonest possible.

 

He further stated that the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), who

take care of the animals lack enthusiasm to send the orangutans back home.

Again Mr. Whyte is wrong. The orangutans are currently at a holding facility

of the Thai government and not in our care at all, besides this we have made

it our main goal to send them back home just as we did in the past cases of

53 orangutans from Thailand and 2 more from Vietnam. It is impossible to

keep something you do actually not have. The confiscation of these

orangutans is actually a direct result of a WFFT complaint to the Department

of National parks. During talks with Thai officials I have been made aware

of talks and have seen documents of correspondence between Thailand's and

Indonesian CITES offices on the matter, who are slowly to say the least,

working on a solution. We as NGO would like to see more speed in this

discussion just as Mr. Whyte does, however we have no authority do push for

this. Therefore Mr. Whyte blaming us again for being part of the problem is

baseless. There are no logical grounds for this unreasonable slander by Mr.

Whyte; it is therefore difficult to understand this could be part of any

solution.

 

I would also ask for your attention on the point of blaming Thailand

completely for the illegal trade in orangutans. Thailand is only one of the

many customers of orangutans and other wildlife poached and smuggled out of

the jungles in Indonesia by Indonesian poachers and Indonesian animal

traders.

 

I have personally been involved with a long dreadful campaign to send the

Bangkok Safariworld orangutans back home a few years ago while facing death

threats and even ending up in jail in Thailand as a way to stop me fight for

the animals, I did continue the fight as I did believe in the cause. I do

still believe in this cause however I do question the current adequacy of

over-crowded rescue facilities within Indonesia. The WFFT is actively engaged

in upgrading one of the Indonesian wildlife rescue centers for the benefit

of the confiscated wildlife throughout Indonesia and the WFFT sees this as a

long-term commitment.

 

Edwin Wiek

 

Secretary-General

Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

http://www.wfft.org/

<Edwin.wiek

Tel +66-8-90600906

 

 

 

 

aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of

Nuntanitz B

Friday, August 21, 2009 4:17 PM

[bulk] (TH) Orangutans in Thailand

 

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/21/letters-orangutans-thailand.html

 

Letters: Orangutans in Thailand

Friday, August 21, 2009 **

Fri, 08/21/2009 1:47 PM | Reader's Forum

 

I would like to respond to the accusations of Sean Whyte in your Readers'

Forum (The Jakarta Post, July 31) regarding the confiscated orangutans in

Thailand. It was disappointing to see such an unfounded and grossly

inaccurate account from someone who is supposed to be working with others to

protect and conserve wildlife.

 

Whyte says the park authorities have been tight-lipped on the outcome of the

DNA check. This is not true, as they already may have concluded that the

orangutans were all from different strings of DNA and were not born in

captivity. At this moment, only two countries can claim origin, namely

Indonesia and Malaysia. Neither one of these countries has claimed

ownership.

 

The Thai authorities have told us they are willing to send the orangutans

home as soon as possible. He stated that the Wildlife Friends Foundation

Thailand (WFFT), who take care of the animals, lack enthusiasm to send the

orangutans back home.

 

The confiscation of these orangutans is actually as a direct result of a

WFFT complaint to the Department of National Parks. During talks with Thai

officials, I have been made aware of talks and have seen documents of

correspondence between Thailand's and Indonesian CITES offices on the

matter, who are slowly, to say the least, working on a solution.

 

We, as an NGO, would like to see more speed in this discussion, just as

Whyte does; however, we have no authority to push for this. Therefore, Whyte

blaming us for being part of the problem is baseless. There are no logical

grounds for this unreasonable slander by Whyte; it is therefore difficult to

understand this could be part of any solution.

 

I would ask for your attention on the point of wholly blaming Thailand for

the illegal trade in orangutans. Thailand is only one of the many customers

for orangutans and other wildlife poached and smuggled out of the jungles in

Indonesia by Indonesian poachers and Indonesian animal traders.

 

The WFFT is actively engaged in upgrading one of the Indonesian wildlife

rescue centers for the benefit of confiscated wildlife throughout Indonesia

and the WFFT sees this as a long-term commitment.

 

Edwin Wiek

Bangkok