Govt action pushes elephants off streets of Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The director-general of the Department of National Parks today hailed the success of government measures to push elephants off the streets of Bangkok, while announcing a new 24-hour hotline for the public to alert officials to the presence of elephants in the capital.

Mr. Somchai Phiensathaporn, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said that concerted efforts by various government agencies to solve the problem of elephants roaming major cities had managed to reduce the number of elephants in Bangkok and the surrou nding provinces.

Conceding that past efforts had been hampered by a lack of coordination among the agencies involved, he said that agencies including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Dusit Zoo and the police were now working together to ensure that the capital remained elephant-free.

Mahouts began bringing their beasts to Bangkok and other major cities when the government announced the closure of forest land. With little to feed their elephants on, mahouts flocked to the capital, where they soon found that they could gain easy money by asking tourists to purchase food for their beasts at highly inflated prices.

However, the elephants were less than happy in their new urban environment, and many became the victims of torture and traffic accidents.

However, Mr. Somchai admitted today that mahouts were probably just waiting for officials to become lax in their enforcement measures before attempting to return to the capital.

Members of the public who see an elephant in Bangkok are advised to phone the 24-hour elephant helpline on 1362.

--TNA 2004-09-05

This campaign started about 6 years ago, now I can work out how fast an Elephant walks.

This campaign started about 6 years ago, now I can work out how fast an Elephant walks.

Hehehehe so very very true. The matter comes up in the press twice a year whether you need it or not

However, Mr. Somchai admitted today that mahouts were probably just waiting for officials to become lax in their enforcement measures before attempting to return to the capital.

I just love this sentence....

and, of course, the police cannot do too much to enforce the law as that would inconvience the mahouts.

However, Mr. Somchai admitted today that mahouts were probably just waiting for officials to become lax in their enforcement measures before attempting to return to the capital.

I just love this sentence....

and, of course, the police cannot do too much to enforce the law as that would inconvience the mahouts.

If a law were to be enforced evenly and consistently there wouldn't be the need for the periodic crackdown, would there? Where would we be without the crackdowns?

Seriously though, it really says something (although I'm not sure exactly what) that it took years to get this problem under control in Bangkok. It's not like a mahout can easily hide an elephant from the authorities.

ช้างมาเที่ยวในเมืองทั้งตัว เอาใบบัวมาปิด

Adaptation of old Thai proverb.

ovenman- Don't believe it.

... announcing a new 24-hour hotline for the public to alert officials to the presence of elephants in the capital.

Good idea - there were often elephants hanging around (loitering with intent?) near Sukhumvit soi 10 (RIP soi 10):

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10363

It's not like a mahout can easily hide an elephant from the authorities.

ovenman- Don't believe it.

What I meant was the mahouts generally bring the elephants to the same places every day to "work" as evidenced by RDN's post. I know this, RDN knows this, you probably know this too. How difficult would it be for the cops to figure it out...?