(TH) The Clarification on the ill-treatment of baby elephants in Thailand

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Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release.

 

- The Clarification on the ill-treatment of baby elephants in Thailand

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=3251

 

January 17, 2003, 12:00 am

 

With reference to the complaint of the People for Ethical Treatment of

Animals (PETA) on the maltreatment of baby elephants in Thailand, the

Embassy wishes to clarify the followings:

 

1. Pictures of the tortures of baby elephants displayed on PETA websites

were extracts of a tribal ceremony of the Keren Hill Tribe, a minority

group residing along the Thai -Myanmar border, conducted during the process

of separating the baby elephant from its mother.

 

2. Upon investigation, the Forest Industry Organization, which is

responsible for the protection and conservation of elephants, had taken the

Keren mahout and the injured elephant in question under the care of the

National Elephant Institute (NEI), one of its institutes dealing

specifically with the protection and conservation of elephants.

 

3. The incident in question is considered an isolated case whereas most

elephants in other parts of Thailand are being well taken care of.

 

4. The Forest Industry Organization had already set up proactive guidelines

to solve the problems i.e. disseminate information to the Keren communities

and organize seminars for Keren mahouts in an attempt to change their

attitudes and ways in elephant training and to promote suitable training

techniques and correct conservation measures.

 

5. In addition, the Forest Industry Organization has closely coordinated

with other Thai agencies concerned, i.e. the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of

Interior, to supervise and gather information on under-standard elephant

training camps in order to resolve and solve this problem in accordance

with the ¡ÈRule of the Specification of Elephant Camps in Thailand¡É

announced on 19th April 2002.

 

6. The Thai government attaches great importance to the protection of

elephants and to promote their well-being. Aside from setting up a

competent institute vested with special authority such as the NEI to ensure

the quality and standard of elephant welfare, it is currently drafting a

law to designate elephants as a National Symbol and to protect elephants

including regulating mahouts and elephant owners so as to effectively solve

this problem in the long term.

 

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