(TH) Osaka Zoo wants to raise two Thai elephants

[Guest guest]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/23766/charnchai-backs-japanese-request-to-\

raise-two-jumbos-at-osaka-zoo

Osaka Zoo wants to raise two Thai elephants Writer: APINYA

WIPATAYOTINPublished:

13/09/2009 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section:

News<http://www.bangkokpost.com/advance-search/?papers_sec_id=1>

 

Bangkok and Tokyo will hold talks over a plan to send a pair of Thai

elephants to a state zoo in Osaka, Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungruang

said yesterday.

 

The minister, who is in Japan to promote trade cooperation, said the jumbos

would be a " present to mark close trade ties between the two countries " .

 

Japan had expressed strong interest in raising a pair of Thai elephants at

its zoo in Osaka, which already has one Thai jumbo, Mr Charnchai said ahead

of a meeting with the Japanese environment minister.

 

" Japan has been asking for the past six years if it can look after a pair of

jumbos, but the Thai government has yet to reply, " the minister told the

Bangkok Post via telephone from Japan.

 

" Giving the elephants to an important trading partner such as Japan will be

a good way to strengthen economic cooperation, " Mr Charnchai said, adding he

would discuss the issue with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti upon his return.

 

Animal rights groups and environmentalists say sending the elephants to

Japan would send a wrong signal that Thailand supports trade in endangered

wildlife.

 

Soraida Salwala, founder of the Bangkok-based Friends of the Asian Elephant

Foundation, urged the minister to scrap the planned jumbo export.

 

" The government should keep the elephants here, while Tokyo should stop

asking for the jumbos, " said Ms Soraida.

 

Thailand had a bad image as one of the world's largest wildlife trade hubs.

 

Ms Soraida said many countries had asked Thailand to send Asian elephants to

their zoos, including the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

 

Elephants are one of 51 wild animals listed on Appendix I of the Convention

on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which

bans the export and import of listed animals except for educational and

conservation purposes. However, some imports and exports of protected wild

animals have been conducted under government-to-government animal exchange

programmes.

 

Thailand has sent elephants to countries for educational purposes and to

strengthen relations, such as the 2006 elephant-koala swap under which eight

elephants were sent to zoos in Australia.

 

 

--

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

will not himself find peace. " -Albert Schweitzer