Thai-India Animal Swap...

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

 

 

Over the past two years we have proven that over 100 orangutans were

illegally imported to Thailand. A group of 57 now are to be confiscated from

Safariworld after we showed through DNA tests that they were not born at the

zoo, and 9 orangutans have been already taken in by the DNP (Department of

Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plants) in various raids. We have very strong

reasons to believe that the animals to be exchanged with the Assam Zoo are

the same ones as above mentioned. We have asked the Thai authorities to

allow the repatriation of the orangutans, a wish of the Indonesians, however

to no reply until today. The fact that the animals " confiscated " are now

subject to an (commercial) exchange instead of a repatriation and release

back to the wild is in our opinion outrageous. I will today forward several

letters we send in the past to you, and some updates on the matter.

 

Edwin Wiek

WFFT

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The Telegraph, Guwahati, 30 July 2005.

 

 

 

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050730/asp/guwahati/story_5050818.asp

 

 

 

Assam Zoo plans animal swap

 

July 29: The Assam State Zoo will receive chimpanzees and orang-utans from

Thailand Zoological Park in exchange of a male rhino if the discussions held

today receive the Central Zoo Authority's seal of approval.

 

Officials of the state forest department and the Thailand Zoological Park

Organisation today agreed to exchange the animals in a meeting at the Assam

State Zoo.

 

Besides three chimpanzees and two orang-utans, Thailand has also agreed to

give one female clouded leopard, three binturongs (bearcat), one pig-tailed

macaque and two female stumped macaques - all Schedule I animals.

 

Assam chief wildlife warden M.C. Malakar, who attended the meeting, said the

state forest department is waiting for the final nod on the exchange plan

from the Central Zoo Authority in New Delhi. Malakar and the Thai delegates

have already met their officials.

 

Sources said the final clearance might take some time as several aspects,

such as health of the animals, need to be considered. Once the green signal

comes through, the two sides will chalk out the modalities and sign a

memorandum of understanding.

 

The representatives also discussed wildlife conservation in their respective

countries and the support received from their governments.

 

The Thai team agreed to provide technical training in designing zoo

enclosures and in other areas of wildlife conservation. A conservation

programme on common species of Assam and Thailand is also on the cards. Led

by its director-general Sophan Dumnoi, the Thailand Zoological Park

Organisation team comprises Suriya Sangpong, ThanapatPongtamon, Kravee

Kreethapon and Ratna Kumar Duraisingam.