GREEN SIGNAL FOR AUSTRALIAN ELEPHANT IMPORTATION

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Asian elephants get go-ahead for Aussie trek

 

December 07 2005 at 11:55AM

 

Sydney - Australian authorities on Wednesday approved the controversial

importation of eight endangered Asian elephants but animal welfare groups

said they would continue to fight the decision.

 

The government originally approved the import of the elephants, currently

awaiting shipment in Thailand, in July. But the decision was appealed by

animal rights groups who said facilities in Sydney and Melbourne zoos were

inadequate to house them.

 

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal ruled Wednesday that bringing the

animals in would not breach any laws, but said it would impose strict

conditions to ensure their welfare before issuing an import licence.

 

" We have decided that the importation is not relevantly detrimental to the

survival or recovery in nature of Asian elephants and we have decided that

the importation will not contravene any relevant law, " the tribunal said.

 

*Intended as part of a controversial breeding and conservation programme* " We

have decided that the import licences should probably be granted although

this will be on a number of conditions and we will need to be further

satisfied by additional evidence. "

 

A final decision on allowing the shipment to go ahead will be made following

further information being provided later this month, when animal rights

groups will appeal for the ruling to be reversed.

 

The animals were intended as part of a controversial breeding and

conservation programme, with five going to Sydney's Taronga Zoo and three to

Melbourne Zoo.

 

But the plan angered animal rights groups who argued the zoos could not

provide for all the animals' needs and said they were better off in

Thailand.

 

Taronga Zoo's director Guy Cooper said he was " extremely encouraged " by the

tribunal's comments.

 

He said the zoo would make adjustments to its specially-built enclosure to

ensure that the animals were as comfortable as possible.

 

Fewer than 50 000 Asian elephants remain in the wild and habitat loss and

poaching threaten the existence of the species, particularly in Southeast

Asia. - Sapa-AFP