(TH) Orangutans in Thailand

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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

 

 

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" Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man

will not himself find peace. " -Albert Schweitzer