Fw: Tigress in Vietnam

[Guest guest]

WSPA

 

My nephew and his wife are traveling in South East Asia and sent me the

following mail - the extract I am forwarding to you is self-explanatory.

 

Is it possible for your organization to do something about this? If not, do

you know who we should contact? You will see I have also sent a copy of

this mail to some other organizations (IFAW, Asian Animal Protection

Network).

 

Kind regards - Debbie Smith

 

Also for Debbie, we visited Kuang Si Waterfall near Luang Prabang in Laos

&

> saw a Tigress & some bears in captivity there who didn't have a nice

> environment to live in. The tigress whose name is Phet is in an enclosure

> with a cage at one end that she is locked in some of the time. When she is

> out of the cage she paces listlessly meeting no one's eye. There is a sign

> asking for donations so that the butcher can bring fresh meat to feed her.

> The Provincial Committee for the rescue of confiscated wild animals of

Luang

> Prabang (CRCWA) seems to own her & the bears & it is they who are asking

for

> contributions for food & healthcare. The animals were confiscated from

> poachers who were going to sell them as babies for Chinese medicine. Phet

is

> 5 & has grown up in captivity. These animals can't be released into the

wild

> because they have never experienced it. However, we are sure that they

could

> be treated much better. The space they are in is too small & not at all

> nice. We don't think they are being looked after properly & don't trust

that

> all the donations are being used the way they should be. We wondered if

you

> knew to whom this matter might be referred. There is an address for

further

> info at the place: Mr. Somphong Pradichit, Deputy Director General f

> Provincial Agriculture & Forestry Dept., Head of CRCWA, Luang Prabang.

Tel:

> 856 71 212890 or 212014 (office) or 856 71 212262 (home), or 020 557 0658

> (mobile). Phet is probably considered an asset to keep the tourist traffic

> flowing but we were really sad to see her living there & would love to be

> able to improve things for her. Any ideas?