Bangkok Post: Commercial farming of wildlife likely

[Guest guest]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/08Jan2003_news20.html

 

Commercial farming of wildlife likely

Wednesday 08 January 2003

 

Breeding to boost numbers, economy

Ranjana Wangvipula

 

The farming of up to 55 protected animals is likely to be legalised, to increase

their numbers and boost the economy.

 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Praphat Panyachartrak said cabinet

had already approved the idea to legalise the farming of 55 animals, including

deer, peacocks, some types of monkeys, pheasants and parrots.

 

The Senate was considering the proposal to amend the 1992 Wildlife Protection

Act.

 

Commercial farming had been banned, meaning some animals had to be imported, Mr

Praphat said.

 

If passed by the Senate, farms could be established similar to the well-known

crocodile farm in Nakhon Pathom province. A deer farm could attract tourists

while parts of their bodies, like antlers, could be cut off and sold. ``But it

needs to be proven that these animals can be bred and raised in captivity on

farms,'' Mr Praphat said.

 

Amnesty would be granted to people possessing prohibited wild animals provided

they informed officials of the type and number of animals they had. This would

allow officials to monitor the number of wild animals on farms.

 

Mr Praphat said allowing farming of protected animals would reduce hunting, and

some of the animals bred in captivity could eventually be returned to the wild.

The farms could also be money-spinners.

 

However, Wildlife Fund Thailand secretary-general Surapon Duangkhae said he was

worried some businessmen might stock up on protected animals from the wild to

have them registered once the proposal became law.

 

In the long term, commercial farming might be so costly that business people

would return to illegal practices.

 

Mr Surapon suggested a campaign be launched to make people aware of the value of

wildlife.