INDIAN EXPERTS INVOLVED IN THAI ELEPHANT DEAL

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http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews & id=18223 

Posted on 30 Aug 2005 # IANS

 

 

Indian experts to help Australia on elephant import:

Sanu George, Thiruvananthapuram: Elephant expert Jacob Cheeran is packing his

bags for Sydney where he will give his expert opinion on the controversial

import of eight elephants from Thailand to six zoos in Australia.

 

The controversy surfaced a few months ago when a public interest litigation was

filed against the import at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Sydney District

Registry.

 

Caught in the controversy, the Sydney Tribunal sought expert opinion from

Cheeran and Vivek Menon, executive director of Wildlife Trust of India. While

Cheeran's expertise would be used to assess the condition of the elephants,

Menon would give advice on wildlife management.

 

" I have already given my first report to the tribunal and we are leaving here on

the 19th of next month to make an on the spot assessment of the zoos. We need to

find out if the facilities are enough for these elephants and also to study if

these zoos could look into the biological and emotional needs of the elephants, "

Cheeran told IANS in this Kerala capital.

 

The US based International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Australia based

Humane Society International (HSI) and the Britain based Royal Society for

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have protested the move.

 

The three NGOs pointed out that the import was not going to support the

long-term survival of the species, either in Australia or in Thailand. The

importing country cannot make a viable population of elephants by breeding them

properly.

 

They also argued that the import would be a threat to elephants in several other

countries, since this would be a signal that the pachyderms are an exportable

commodity.

 

The experts said the performance of Australian zoos was dismal in captive

breeding of animals. Elephants had never been bred in Australia, although the

country has 10 of the animals.

 

According to Cheeran, the controversy arose because both Australia and Thailand

are signatories to the CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered

Species of wild flora and fauna).

 

" Any animal listed in the CITES schedules should not be exported or imported for

commercial purpose. If at all any export or import is to happen, both the

parties shall ensure that the activity shall not threaten its existence in its

wild natural eco-system, " said the 63-year-old veteran elephant expert.

 

Australia claims it is resorting to ex-situ conservation.

 

" Ex-situ conservation is a type of conservation programme in which the animals

are taken out of their natural habitat when its existence in the original

habitat is threatened. Ultimately these animals are to be reintroduced back into

their original habitat for the survival of the species in the wild, " said

Cheeran.