animal-misery in Thailand

Although world-wide a lot of animal-abuse can be found I concentrate only at my present home-country: Thailand.

As long as the (ab)use has been made by local poor or very poor people I can understand as long it is for food but "normally" the excesses are created only to generate (big) money and by scrupulous "business" people and officials.

In my country there are lots of animal-abuses due to money and the tourists are unfortunately keeping a part of this abuse alive not being aware how the animals has been treated and "trained" before nor how their life and living circumstances are.

Yesterday The Nation, a Thai newspaper in the English language, published the following:

Export of tigers was a criminal act: NCCC
Ex-forestry chief Plodprasop is found guilty of approving deal

Former director-general of the Royal Forestry Department Plodpra-sop Suraswadi has been found guilty of involvement in the export of 100 Bengal tigers - a protected species - to China, Klanarong Chantik, spokesman for the National Counter Corruption Commission, said yesterday.

The NCCC yesterday discussed the scandal, which took place in 2002, and found that Plodprasop's approval to export the tigers was a serious disciplinary violation and also a criminal offence.

Klanarong said the conclusion was reached after the NCCC interviewed 18 witnesses and studied documents related to the issue. He said the NCCC would send its resolution to Plodprasop's supervisor for disciplinary punishment and to the Office of the Attorney-General to process for criminal action.

A source in the NCCC said the members spent more than five hours discussing the matter. One point of concern was the relationship between Thailand and China. The NCCC was also concerned about the possibility that Plodprasop might file a legal suit against it, said the source, who asked not to be named.

Plodprasop was not available for comment yesterday.

Yesterday's NCCC resolution contradicted a conclusion reached earlier by a government panel that investigated claims of disciplinary violations by Plodprasop. The panel, chaired by Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan, concluded in 2005 that Plodprasop did not violate any regulations in allowing the export of the tigers.

In 2002, Plodprasop, as director-general of the RFD, allowed Sri Racha Tiger Zoo to export 100 Bengal tigers to a zoo on the island of Hainan. As the tiger is a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, exports can only be carried out between governments and only for research and education.

Klanarong said the NCCC considered the export authorised by Plodprasop was meant to benefit zoo operators.

The Nation 12-8-2007

and Norman Ball from Bangkok came with the following reaction the next day:

Wild animals are not an economic commodity

Thailand’s wild tigers are on the verge of extinction, numbering probably fewer than 150. It is disturbing to read that a senior government officer who was responsible for protection this country’s wildlife regards tigers as a resource to be “given to anyone” because they were captive-bred.

Tigers, whether captive-bred or wild, are part of nature and are entitled under both Thai and United Nations legislation to protection from exploitation. This country was disgraced by the export of such serious endangered species to China, where tigers are farmed for meat using cruel, int5ensive breeding methods.

The only so-called research programme was of a financial nature and none of the exported 100 tigers or their offspring has been returned to the wild.

I congratulate the NCCC on their findings in this appalling case.

This is a letter to The Nation dated August 13, 2007 in the section “Opinion” under “send us your views”.

NCCC = National Counter Corruption Commission

The Sri Racha Tiger "Zoo" has been already criticized and targeted for many, many years now and with reason. The "Zoo"at Hainan is the Longhu farm:

"The Longhu farm is home to 370 tigers and nearly 20,000 crocodiles and is run in conjunction with a Thai company, which has sent 40 of its workers to China."

Source: Xinhua - 22 May 2007

where this year a Thai worker has been mauled to death by a tiger.

Anyway, I should ad this "zoo" (which is using also different prices for foreigners and Thai) to my blacklist of Thai animal-"entertainment" which does not give me a lot of options anymore to visit a "clean" and recommendable place to meet local animals. The only one I have heard of is Khao Kheow which is under the auspices of HM the King and I think the snake-farms can be visited without any doubt because they are acting educational without misuse and for preparing sera. Might be there are more but I was not able to list them and recommendations are more than welcome!

15-8-2007

Further investigation learned me more:“Longhu zoo in Sanya has brought in this Bengal Tiger from Thailand’s Sriracha Tiger Zoo in 2001…” Chon Buri

So, the circle is round again: we arrived in this “zoo” where tigers are breded and prepared (for China: meat and medecines) and where are “tiger-shows” performed for the tourists. Last but not least: the entrance fees for Farangs are far higher than for Thai citicens.

15-8-2007

And here one meets Mr. Plodprasop again linked to a big and at that time new animal-project:

Money and turnover are not stinking but I hope that the meat involved will stink fast due too lack of turnover!!

CHIANG MAI SAFARI: Rare animals on the menu at zoo

CHIANG MAI: — Visitors offered daily buffet of lion, tiger, elephant and giraffe meat; conservation groups outraged. Lovers of “wild” cuisine are in for a treat when Chiang Mai’s Night Safari opens next year, project director Plodprasop Suraswadi said yesterday. Visitors to the park’s Vareekunchorn restaurant will have the option of tucking in to an “Exotic Buffet” of tiger, lion, elephant and giraffe, for just Bt4,500 a head.

The park, which had a soft opening yesterday, officially opens on New Year’s Day.

The animal-buffet idea has drawn strong protests from wildlife groups, which have expressed concern that the menu of endangered and protected animals will confuse the public and foreign visitors about the real objective of the zoo, as well as Thailand’s stance on wildlife conservation.

According to Plodprasop, animals for the buffet would be imported daily and legally to the zoo.

Ironically, the prime minister said the park would aim to increase public awareness of natural science and wildlife.

“The zoo will be outstanding, with several restaurants offering visitors the chance to experience exotic foods such as imported horse, kangaroo, giraffe, snake, elephant, tiger and lion meat.

“We will also provide domestic crocodile and dog meat from Sakon Nakhon province,” Plodprasop said at a press tour before Thaksin presided over the soft opening.

Plodprasop said food provided at the buffet restaurant would be fresh daily and cooked by five foreign chefs.

Wildlife Fund Thailand secretary Surapol Duangkae said yesterday that although consuming wildlife didn’t violate Cites [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species], it could fly in the face of moral issues and worsen the country’s image on wildlife-trade issues.

“The idea will set the country’s image back a century, because nowadays zoos around the world aim to educate and conserve wildlife, as well as campaigning to stop the killing of animals,” he said.

He said the action of the government would appear to the world as if Thailand approved of the endangered-wildlife trade and consumption.

There have already been cases of 100 tigers exported to China, elephants planned to be transferred to Australia and the illegal import of orang-utans.

Surapol said the country has also been accused of trafficking endangered species, and being a trading centre and hunting ground for endangered species.

“The government’s action seems to confirm these accusations,” Surapol said.

Petch Manopavitr, a Wildlife Conservation Society activist said this was a sensitive issue as the prime minister had previously declared that the country wanted to suppress wildlife trade in the region.

“I see it as a bad idea to market the zoo. In fact, it was wrong from the start with the idea of importing wild animals from Kenya,” Petch said.

Petch was also concerned about illnesses from eating wild animals.

“The zoo should be a place for study and conservation, not killing. Promoting the eating of wild animals will confuse adults and children about what’s right and what’s wrong,” he said.

However, the prime minister seemed unconvinced by Plodprasop’s idea as he said that only part of a crocodile’s body could be eaten and it therefore wouldn’t be worth killing.

–The Nation 2005-11-17

Everything around the Night Safari has been very quiet as I see now: Googling does not give a lot. Only I see that their homepage is still under construction after a lot of fanfare they made for their business!

Interesting and good news I found in a learning-site of the Bangkok Post:

Wildlife taken off the menu at Night Safari

Plodprasop backtracks as public goes bananas

Preeyanat Phanayanggoor

1. Animal lovers savoured a victory yesterday when the Chiang Mai Night Safari scrapped plans to serve wild animal meat in park restaurants.
2. Park director Plodprasob Suraswadi called an urgent press conference to say no restaurants will offer wild meats as earlier planned because it would confuse visitors and go against the park’s theme of education and animal conservation.

well well, too late! They should have considered that before if not leaving these ungraceful ideas on forehand already unborn!

1. However, he said, the exception would be crocodile and ostrich meat, which were locally consumed and raised on farms.
2. Dog meat from Sakon Nakhon’s Tha Rae district would also be taken off the menu because the majority of people disapproved of its consumption, said Mr Plodprasob.

surprised about that?? Again: think before you start and think clean!

1. He was strongly criticised by the public last week after revealing his idea to offer exotic buffets consisting of zebra, crocodile, giraffe, dog and other exotic fare.

Bangkok Post site Tuesday, January 3, 2006

By the way: about tiger-meat I don’t hear a lot anymore or has that been served “under the table”??

“A Thai friend told me yesterday that his ex-boss used to hang out with Plodprasob and that tiger meat had been eaten on location along with alligator and turtle meat at the zoo's restaurant.. From what I understood, it was not advertised on the menu but possible for people to eat it. Only alligator meat is advertised but I'll bet they served tiger and turtle as well.

The zoo's website (another eyesore) shows a menu that seems to be mostly vegetarian but there is emphasis on the healing properties of every meal.

Zoo's Menu

So, my guess is that you could eat tiger meat at the zoo if you asked for it, or, you could put in an order for a hundred retarded tigers for take-out.

Feed him to his own tigers.”

as I mentioned before: fast Googling did not bring me a lot, only going into certain sites about this Night Safari and the “Zoo” brought me a virus-warning which I could eliminate in time. A big coincidence because I have never received more than 2 or 3 in 4 years time which period I am an addicted and intensive computer-user!(?)