toddy

Hi - I live 6mths in Buriram province and 6mths in UK most years. Currently I am carrying out research into the wildlife trade in Thailand (and bordering countries). This will be done simply to assess the impact of trade and not to target individual dealers. I also understand that some rural Thais depend on sustainable harvest of wildlife as an important source of income. I am focussed mainly on the trade in primates.

My request is for information on locations of where primates (and other wildlife) are traded in Thailand and also at border markets. Any help you can give me on this will be hugely appreciated and the resulting paper will acknowledge your contribution (if you agree to this - some prefer to remain anonymous). The paper will hopefully be published by Oxford University in UK.

Thank you for reading.

90% of urban Macaques carry Herpes-B transmittable to humans via retroviral route. Beware. Matthew Todd MSc Primate Conservation.

www.viperandvine.com

Tao na? (เต่านา)

Malayan Snail-eating Terrapin(Rice-field Terrapin)

Scientific name : Malayemys subtrijuga

Yep that's the one. Asian Box Turtles (Amboinensis) are now on CITES and must not really be removed from where they are found. Snail Eaters are really rare though but when found there is likely to be a lot more in the same area.

www.viperandvine.com

i live here and its seems fine to me better than london and manchester anyway very quiet and the local people are very nice

Well, that's good.

I have on more occasions than i can count picked up people injured and killed in fights in that exact area (and several times during that experienced some hairy situation myself).

'Dalat Thai' is well known for being a very rough place. Closed to 'Dalat Thai' is 'Nava Nakhorn' - an industrial development zone privately owned - and an urban nightmare right out of a science fiction novel. Regular gang fights and shoot outs, mostly populated by rural migrants.

If you around on the streets in that area at night, in the entertainment areas, the lower class Mu Bans, the slums and the migrant living quarters - then you will see very soon that the Nationmaster statistics are not far from reality.

Hi - what do you do then - some kind of aid work or whatever? - Just interested. It's strange to me in Bangkok how a lot of aggro seems to be caused by uncountry workers but actually in Isaan myself I see very little problems - only farm boys etc 'scrapping' at country fairs etc. Obviously there are murders etc but it still isn't as bad as right here 'Hulme' in Manchester. I could leave this door right now and get killed a lot more easily than I could back in Buriram. What changes when these guys go live in Bangkok?

This is all very worrying, I have a young boy and my partner has recently asked me to return to Thailand with a harness for him as a young boy went missing from our local department store last week! I'm not very keen on a harness really, not on a 2 1/2 year old, so I started to look for info about chipping my child, I know it doesn't sound right but it could save his life and our hearts! I found this on Google: VeriKid

If anybody else has any info on this I'd appreciate it!

Nikkijah

Nikkijah, there hasn't been a shred of evidence produced to back up these claims about vans going around abducting children for organ harvesting. Not a shred. What is clear is that this is an urban legend that has surfaced in a number of countries. No need to point fingers, but some real 'nutters' have surfaced on this thread. There is no need to take any precautions that you wouldn't take anywhere else. The idea of running around with your kid on a harness like a dog is absurd!

I am currently in Manchester working at my retail shop www.viperandvine.com I WALK AROUND MANCHESTER WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD SON ON HIS FAVOURITE FERRET HARNESS! SIMPLY BECAUSE EVEN HERE, PEOPLE STEAL KIDS. YOU ARE LIVING IN A WORLD APART FROM THE REST OF US. THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

Let's review:

1. You see someone talking to your child while you are drinking, and based on that and with no further information try to run him off the road and shoot out his tires.

2. You walk around Manchester with your two year old tied to a dog harness.

'nuff said.

Glad you agree with me, 'nuff said, as you say.

This is all very worrying, I have a young boy and my partner has recently asked me to return to Thailand with a harness for him as a young boy went missing from our local department store last week! I'm not very keen on a harness really, not on a 2 1/2 year old, so I started to look for info about chipping my child, I know it doesn't sound right but it could save his life and our hearts! I found this on Google: VeriKid

If anybody else has any info on this I'd appreciate it!

Nikkijah

Nikkijah, there hasn't been a shred of evidence produced to back up these claims about vans going around abducting children for organ harvesting. Not a shred. What is clear is that this is an urban legend that has surfaced in a number of countries. No need to point fingers, but some real 'nutters' have surfaced on this thread. There is no need to take any precautions that you wouldn't take anywhere else. The idea of running around with your kid on a harness like a dog is absurd!

I am currently in Manchester working at my retail shop www.viperandvine.com I WALK AROUND MANCHESTER WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD SON ON HIS FAVOURITE FERRET HARNESS! SIMPLY BECAUSE EVEN HERE, PEOPLE STEAL KIDS. YOU ARE LIVING IN A WORLD APART FROM THE REST OF US. THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

Three months ago I was at my in law's 'shack' in Amphur Satuk, Buriram approx. 1 mile from my house. My daughter 5 year old was with us, just wandering around and playing with other kids/family dogs etc. I was drinking a beer with my Father in Law. I looked up and saw a blue pick-up truck at the side of the road. Fern, my daughter was speaking to the driver. I got up and the truck sped off. I followed him (only one beer) and managed to get him off the road into a ditch. He u-turned in the dirt and got back on the track going the other way. I tried to shoot his tires out but missed. THE GUY WAS UP TO NO GOOD. THEY GUY WAS DOING SOMETHING WIERD. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL AND PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN TO THE DEATH IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. WE ARE ONLY HERE NOW TO RAISE THEM IN THE RIGHT WAY AND TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.

I have just received some upsetting news from my wife today (I work in the Middle East), two of our dogs (one Golden Retriever and the other a Mongrel) were found dead this morning in our garden and there was a sort of egg omlet found rapped up in paper which had some green stuff on it which seems to be the stuff that piosoned our two dogs.

We have five dogs (now only three) and two live in the house and the others outside, luckily the third dog did not eat any of this food as he was at the front of the house. I will dearly miss the two dogs as they were very freindly and good companions.

We believe there are people roaming the area (I live near Buriram) and are checking to see where us falangs live and they are casing the area so they knew we had dogs and they threw this pioson into the garden last night so that they could maybe return tonight to burgal the place. I have told my wife to tell the police so that they will be ready for them (I hope).

THis is a message to all falangs in the area, please be on your guard, when I get back I will buy a shotgun and teach my wife how to use it as this is very concerning especially for me being away.

I have a farm up in Buriram also. We have 2 Shepherds (rejected from Royal Thai Police) and 2 Big Pit Bulls. They annoy the villagers to hel_l when they are walking buffalo out to the fields and they run at the gates. However I do make a big show of shouting at them for doing this - just to keep on the right side of the neighbours. Once the male pit bull climbed a 7' chainlink fence and killed two 1500b fighting cocks. The owner of the birds smacked the dog really hard on the head with an iron bar (my fault for not having an overhang on the fence). I do not blame him at all and because I was diplomatic with him, he did not ask for any money. It is my guess that dogs that annoy villagers are knocked about rather than poisoned. Poisoning seems to be a precursor to robbery. As stated, have male members of the family around at night.

THaicoon

Yep I know a UK so called barrow boy who was in next village but now in UK with his Thai wife: He tried two businesses they both folded.

Your right most here think itsa easy to start a business, believe me I have had all the thoughts but knocked them on the head, now I am going to make the bore deeper and maybe bigger and clean it up build a fishing shelter, now thats a hobby.

I had two jobs in the UK after leaving the ole Bill, was working harder, whats the point, my ole Mum in the UK said today your better off where you are the UK is in a mess, bless her at 86.

Gloria is doing well thanks.

Hope wecan get together when you in LOS, there wont be any 10-00 on my BBQ

Regards to you and your wife

If you mean me - they didn't fold, I left Buriram as I had a son and obviously did not want him growing up around zee plonkers in Thailand. Made a few quid though in Buriram, cashed it in and set up this, by now infamous (in reptile circles) little earner : www.viperandvine.com

I have found out that my tortoise is on the endangered species list CITES, obviously when I got her from Chatuchak the man didn't point it out. My question is this, has anyone ever appealed to the govt. in England and won the appeal. We will be leaving Thailand soon and I would really like to take her with us otherwise we need to find a new owner. Any advice appreciated.

Simply the answer would be no. I import and export CITES animals around the world. You would need an export permit issued from the CITES dept. near Chatuchak market. They would not do this as it would be an admittance that the trade in endangered animals in Thailand is not improving. If that was issued, you would then need an import permit from DEFRA in the UK. If the animal is Annex A (ie - Hermanns, Star, Burmese Brown, European Spur Thighed) it would not be possible to import. If it was Annex B (ie - Red Foot, Horsefield, African Spurred, Leopard) then a permit could be issued if the export permit was issued by Thailand beforehand.

In short, I think attempting this would be a complete waste of time. However, I supply details for CITES dept. (DEFRA) uk - +44-1173728749. The application procedure costs £5 (private import) or £10 (commercial import) per species. However, as said before, you need to supply a copy of the export permit from Thailand when you apply for the import permit for UK. The UK side takes 15 days. The thing that will for sure stop this though is the fact that there is no way you will get an export permit in Thailand.

Sorry for the bad news.

I've got connections to a Thai lawyer on this one. Most likely I will exploit this avenue

Just fishing for more info trying to make the best decision.

Sure it's great for my little girl to learn English, live in a stable family environment but its only temporay in that I will raise her myself there in the US with the help of my family if I can't get custody or here where I have a different support network if I can and allowing some kind of rasonable visitation.

I just can't subject my daughter to becoming just another ATM machine to be sent off to work in the bar by the family, or being condemend into the underclass of this society when so much more opportunity is possible.

Cultural differences aside, now that I have the upper hand I intend to get what I want. My assets are already legally shielded from my wife.

She has agreed in priniple to a no a contest divorce the only thing we are working out now is child custody.

I'd like to see some typical wording on what works in this country where one party gives up parental power but still is awarded reasonable visitation.

Quite right. I would do everything I could to bring this kiddy up in the US. I took my son back from LOS to UK and he is growing up here with a Dad. The wife is permitted and tolerated around here when she wants to visit. There is only one qualified if it has to be only one and I think in this case, any rational human being would see who that is, in both our cases. My son will never grow up in a second rate manner. I do not know the legalities of this but what you said before about rights applies to me too. I will execute exactly what is necessary for this child to grow up and lead a right kind of life. I think you should do the same legally if possible, illegally if not.

The snake above is commonly known in the trade as an Ornate Flying Snake or Paradise Flying Snake. They are rear-fanged ie they have grooved teeth in nthe rear of the mouth that drip venom rather than 'inject' it. Relatively safe to handle as they need to chew for the venom to act. Various reactions have occured although death is highly unlikely - a black arm is not! Check out my site: www.viperandvine.com

Hi, I live between UK and Thailand and have been a reptile trader/breeder for the last 20 years. Chatuchak is about the only place to find a wide selection of snakes. I would suggest also a Ball Python (Python Regius) if it is a boid (boa/python) that you want. Rarely do they bite or exceed 5 feet in length.

Retics are my speciality and I have the first clutch of Albino Retics now hatching ever in the UK! They are hugely aggressive snakes, very large and have the potential to kill a man. PS - To the other poster - how old is your Retic? Usually they will not breed until after their fourth winter although my Kayuadi Dwarf retics bred in their third year. Also to the same guy - no import or export of live snakes allowed for the forseeable future. Plenty of US colubrids are available in Chatuchak but these are usually smuggled in.

I would seriously not be keeping a Burmese Python or Retic in Thailand unless you have permission to do so, as this is a definite no no here. I had a pair of Albino Burmese, 1 Male Granite Burmese and a Leopard Burmese Female (ALL CAPTIVE BRED COLOUR FORMS) and they still brought the hammer down on me even in my remote village in Buriram!

www.viperandvine.com

Yeah you are all right - I found out today from Immigration in Croydon. A bit daft really as they will owe me a fortune every month in child tax credits etc - single Dad in full time employment with a kid in care six days a week and they also lose the tax my wife would pay whilst working. But that's the gov. for you!

Anyway it's not the end of the world.

Cheers for the help.

The dilemma:

My wife and young baby returned to UK (my wife on a 6 month holiday visa). My wife is to return to Thailand on 21st March BUT - due to a good and unexpected work opportunity I will stay in UK with our baby. Obviously this is now a huge pain for my wife to have to travel back home and apply for spouse visa. As she has held a spouse visa for UK before does anybody know if she can change visa status here in UK? It is a huge inconvenience for her to go home right now and a costly one in nursery fees etc - all of which can be done but I'd rather my baby be at home with the wife than in a nursery five days a week. Assume please that all other things are ok (ie I have a good job, income from property, wife owns vehicles, house & land etc in Thailand). We are getting near to the wire on this one so any help would be great!

Thanking you all in advance.

PS Our baby has both a Thai and UK passport if that means anything. We have been married over three years now and cohabiting in UK / Thailand for the entire time.

Yep, It is indeed a Scolopendra and it has occassionally caused fatalities. I sell them in my shop www.viperandvine.com in Manchester UK. The guy I employ as manager got hammered by one of these and spent five days in hospital - worse than a bee sting ... yep indeed. Can it cause fatalities ... yes it can, but unlikely to. Some prize specimens at my place in Buriram. We feed them small mice and the bigger ones will tackle a nearly full grown mouse (frozen of course).

Hi! I live between Buriram and UK - I have a snake shop in Manchester: www.viperandvine.com . I find that most North American Colubrids such as your kingsnake eat a lot less in the hot weather of Thailand. I really agree with Bina and would resist force feeding at all costs. If the snake has eaten dead prey before, I would also shy away from feeding live pinkies as it will be a pain to get it back on the frozen stuff. Try feeding at different times of night and use a hide box with a small hole for the snake to strike from. I would also not handle the snake for a week or so and then try feeding again. A house gecko in the blender and then painted onto a dead pinky is another possibility as is a bit of fluff from a baby chick stuck onto the pinky. AVOID FORCE FEEDING AT ALL COSTS - IF YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, THEN SOMETHING IS VEY WRONG WITH THE SNAKE'S ENVIRONMENT.

All 4 now, Matthew.

We were out and about on a ride yesterday five farrangs. In a remote village area. We had a minor accident nothing but farrangs invloved, really minor injuries but one rider did warrant a bit of checking over. Within four minutes a village pick up appeared and off the rider was to the hospital some seven Kilos away, one that we would have never found. Not one baht was asked for, not even fuel costs.

One guy really stood out to me, he didn't know much english and kept repeating in all sincerety sorry.

Lets never forget thier is another side to this country, that doesn't include rip offs, but truely wonderful people.

In our accident we actually had people visit us at the hospital whom we didn't even know asking us if we were OK. Truly amazing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Welcome to Isaan! I only hope that as more and more farangs arrive they don't see the locals as easy pickings (farang money lenders etc). Not nice to use somebodys 'jai dee' and perhaps naivity for gain (be it financial gain or otherwise). The cliches and general understanding of Thailand in general does not really apply to Isaan in my view. Don't come here and expect to be ripped off and treated badly etc as happens elsewhere because that's just not what these folks are about HOWEVER - beware SOME OF the younger men when they are out on the beer / lao - they know not what they do!

Needed- Anybody know the email for UK embassy visa section? I cannot click through on their site!

Ok here goes:

I live in Thailand with my thai wife and my son. My wife held a settlement visa for the UK and stayed around 9 months then we went back to Thailand and tried a business prepared to lose the investment if it didn't work. It didn't work! Now we wish to return to the UK but the wait if an interview is required takes 16-20 weeks! We have been married 3 years and lived together both in UK and Thailand and our son was born three months ago in Thailand. We cannot use the drop box as we are out of the two year limit. Do we seriously have to wait 4-5 months? Anyway to speed things up - her holding a visa before (she got it first time)? I should meet all requirements even having been absent from UK.

Cheers, as always, in advance.

My son was born in Thailand. He has a British Passport but not yet a Thai passport. He obviously has birth certificates for both countries. Can he go to UK for a holiday (ie exit Thailand) with ONLY a UK passport (of course there is no visa in it as he is still under 1 year old and has never left Thailand)?

Cheers in advance.

Python reticulatus. Yep, these snakes are protected under CITES and are annex B animals allowing trade in them (live & skin) but this is regulated by a paperwork system. HOWEVER Thai law states that they cannot be exported. The are in fact the longest snake in the world if not the heaviest (Green Anaconda). I have been trading in 'Retics' for over a decade and even have different captive bred colour phases - Lavendar/Albino/Calico etc. They are EXTREMELY temperamental and fast (NOT ANYTHING LIKE THE BURMESE PYTHON Python bivittatus). If you encounter one over 3 metres - be afraid ... be VERY afraid! Seriously a 3 metre Retic could quite feasably kill even a 'big fella' - do not mess!

Does anybody know the Thai words for:

a) Stamp Duty (0.5 per cent)

Property Business Tax (3.3 per cent)

I do not need to know the Thai for transfer fees (2 per cent)

Cheers very big in advance!