THE NATION- Thailand : Cambodia park suspected of smuggling orangutans from Thailand

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Cambodia park suspected of smuggling orangutans from Thailand

 

 

 

AFP 22-12-04

 

 

 

 

 

PHNOM PENH - A Cambodian wildlife park has allegedly smuggled 22 endangered

orangutans from Thailand which are being exploited by being forced to

perform tricks for tourists, an official said Wednesday. Koh Kong Safari

World sought permission from Cambodia's ministry of agriculture to import

the primates in January 2003, an official working for the UN's Convention on

International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) said. The ministry gave

approval but told Safari World, a part of the sprawling Koh Kong

International Resort Club near the Thai border, to seek clearance from CITES

in Cambodia as well as forestry administration officials, he said.

 

" They have imported these animals illegally because they did not obtain

the permit letters, " he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. " I don't

know how those 22 orangutans were imported to the park. "

 

The animals, which arrived at the park popular with Thai tourists in

November 2003, probably originated from Indonesia and are being exploited,

he claimed.

 

" The orangutans have been trained to perform kickboxing in order to sell

tickets to visitors. They are exploiting the animals... Their conduct is

against the CITES and the law, " he said.

 

The forestry administration and CITES in Cambodia wrote to the park in

November demanding an explanation and a report on the park's conditions but

have not received a response.

 

" If they won't cooperate with our authorities, we will confiscate the

animals, " he warned.

 

Park officials were not immediately available for comment.

 

The owner of Thailand's unrelated Safari World is currently facing prison

after DNA tests revealed his park had smuggled in a portion of its 102

orangutans to use in kickboxing bouts that were banned in August.

 

The owner had claimed they were obtained through an in-house breeding

program.

 

About 1,000 orangutans are smuggled out of Indonesia each year, including

300 or more through Thailand, according to environmental group Wildlife

Friends of Thailand.

 

Fewer than 30,000 orangutans are estimated to remain in the world and the

species, which faces rampant habitat loss due to human encroachment, could

become extinct in as little as 20 years.

 

 

 

Cambodia-Thailand-Indonesia-wildlife AFP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edwin Wiek

- Wildlife Friends of Thailand

 

www.wfft.org

 

Thailand Representative - Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation

 

www.savetheorangutans.info