450 Tigers Seized From Private Thai Zoo

[george]

450 tigers seized from private Thai zoo

BANGKOK: -- Police have raided a private zoo in eastern Thailand and confiscated hundreds of tigers they said the facility was breeding illegally, a media report said.

Local ITV television station reported that in the Tuesday raid on the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, police seized 450 tigers, including three pairs used for breeding and one dead tiger, which was found frozen.

It quoted police as saying that the zoo started breeding tigers illegally in 1992, but did not explain why it took 12 years to take action against it.

The zoo will be charged with possessing protected wildlife and breeding wildlife illegally, ITV said.

The zoo is already being investigated for exporting 100 tigers to China.

Body parts from tigers are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Under Cites regulations, Thailand cannot export tigers - which are classified as being endangered - except for educational and conservation purposes.

Less than 5,000 wild tigers currently exist in the world, compared to some 100,000 a century ago, according to the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency.

The raid comes as Bangkok is hosting a two-week conference attended by the 166 nations which signed the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, or Cites.

The treaty, introduced in 1975, aims to protect some 30,000 animals and plants, some of which face extinction because of commercial trade.

-- AP 2004-10-07

[sriracha john]

Well, finally. Shutting down the Tiger Zoo has been long overdue, indeed. Let's just hope that, for once, good follow-up on the initial action is completed.

[astral]

Seems pretty pathetic to me.

By breeding these tigers the Tiger Zoo was helping expand the population.

How many other zoos have been as successful?

Less than 5,000 wild tigers currently exist in the world, compared to some 100,000 a century ago, according to the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency.

Where are the confiscated tigers now?

How many will still be alive in 6 months time?

I wonder who wasn't getting their graft money?

Edited October 7, 2004 by astral

[tuky]

And will that pig that become surrogate mother be prosecuted? surely the pig should be seen as an accomplice???

[Up2U]

I hope the petting zoo is still active?

Gets confusing - explaining to kids that we're going to a zoo where they can stroke the animals, then winding up at the tiger zoo.

[rod_kalashnikov]

 

[sriracha john]

Rod is correct. They weren't breeding for return to the wild or even for wildlife parks, simply making money by selling their parts.

Additionally, with their factory-style breeding, they failed miserably to take into account the extremely delicate nature of the tiger gene pool, potentially damaging any future chances for successful, appropriate breeding to truly help this beautiful but highly endangered species.

Sriracha Tiger Zoo was nothing but a money-grubbing business with no connection to any legitimate zoological organization. May it's owners be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

[plachon]

Seems pretty amazing that the authorities responsible didn't close down the Zoo following the earlier tiger sale to China and the discovery of all those "illegally imported" orang utangs there (or was that another place?). Suppose the cops and other officials who swarmed into the place during earlier raids just "forgot" to notice and ask for documentation for the 450 tigers.

It'll be pat on the back time at CITES now, and then back to business as normal next month when the journos and NGOs have gone home. Or perhaps not? Perhaps this time it signals a more serious stance on wildlife trafficking in the Kingdom. Would be good news for the long suffering and fast - dwindling endangered animals of Asia if so............

[sriracha john]

Seems pretty amazing that the authorities responsible didn't close down the Zoo following the earlier tiger sale to China and the discovery of all those "illegally imported" orang utangs there (or was that another place?). Suppose the cops and other officials who swarmed into the place during earlier raids just "forgot" to notice and ask for documentation for the 450 tigers.

It'll be pat on the back time at CITES now, and then back to business as normal next month when the journos and NGOs have gone home. Or perhaps not? Perhaps this time it signals a more serious stance on wildlife trafficking in the Kingdom. Would be good news for the long suffering and fast - dwindling endangered animals of Asia if so............

Just for the record, the orangutans were at Safari World, outside BKK.

And YES, let's all hope that things do NOT go back to the status quo after CITES is over and Thailand resumes it's place as one of the biggest shopping centers for illegal animals in the world.

[astral]

Apparently they were expanding the population to supply the Chinese medicine blackmarket.

Surely that is better than further depleting the wild population to supply this market?????

[rod_kalashnikov]

 

[thaiwing]

Chinese seem to eat anything with four legs, Tiger dishes seem to be prized because of the so-called exotic taste and reputed health-giving properties.

it would seem private mass production was outside the law for a long period of time for these endangered species - protected does not mean that they are safe from the asian dinner table through profiteer doorways of vietnam or the usual route of burma....

they (the illegal breeders) get about $1200 dollars for one tiger...its not a lot for such a beautiful and endangered species. throw the ######## in the main pit and forget they exist.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE... and a long overdue investigation of the tiger death pit misnamed a "zoo"

Export of tigers to be probed

Conservationists have hailed a move by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to investigate the export of 100 tigers to China. Surapon Duangkhae, secretary-general of Wildlife Fund Thailand, said the investigation was a crucial step in dealing with the illegal wildlife trade that is thriving due to poor law enforcement. ''Investigators should find out where the tigers came from _ whether from Sri Racha Tiger Zoo :D in Chon Buri as claimed by the zoo owner _ or from natural forests.'' He said the zoo owners have not been able to show the origin of the tigers, which is required in the export procedures.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Dec2006_news15.php

[PhilHarries]

450 tigers? That is in no way a zoo! What it is, as has been pointed out, is a production line catering for Chinese dinner tables. Whether it is better do supply the demand that way rather than from the wild is a moot point. It's just another example of money grabbing b@st@rds hiding behind a noble project facade.

But it's not just the Sriracha tiger zoo, the crocodile farm could do with a little once over by some serious authority not just the local yokels bought off by a few thousand Baht. A few years ago I went there with my missus and she wanted to have her photo taken with the tiger. I wasn't interested a bit as exploitation of wild animals fills me with the urge to defecate. Anyway being a nosey ar5ehole I poked around a bit. There on a shelf behind a column was the can of chloroform used to keep the animals docile. I bet that wasn't the only abuse the animals were subject to, some of the cages were way too small for their occupants.

The Asians, particularly the Chinese and Japanese, seem very adept at driving species towards extinction. What with tiger parts, rhino horn, whale meat, sharks fins etc it seems their attitude is "If it's rare it must be good to eat". Oh well, as Bernard Trink would say, MANURE (huMAN natURE).

[kmart]

450 tigers? That is in no way a zoo! What it is, as has been pointed out, is a production line catering for Chinese dinner tables. Whether it is better do supply the demand that way rather than from the wild is a moot point. It's just another example of money grabbing b@st@rds hiding behind a noble project facade.

But it's not just the Sriracha tiger zoo, the crocodile farm could do with a little once over by some serious authority not just the local yokels bought off by a few thousand Baht. A few years ago I went there with my missus and she wanted to have her photo taken with the tiger. I wasn't interested a bit as exploitation of wild animals fills me with the urge to defecate. Anyway being a nosey ar5ehole I poked around a bit. There on a shelf behind a column was the can of chloroform used to keep the animals docile. I bet that wasn't the only abuse the animals were subject to, some of the cages were way too small for their occupants.

The Asians, particularly the Chinese and Japanese, seem very adept at driving species towards extinction. What with tiger parts, rhino horn, whale meat, sharks fins etc it seems their attitude is "If it's rare it must be good to eat". Oh well, as Bernard Trink would say, MANURE (huMAN natURE).

Agreed. Economically empowering a nation of locusts?

I hate zoos anyway. I'd rather see an animal on the National Geographic channel in its natural environment than sedated and made to pose for slug-wit gawkers.

Some people know the price of everything and the value of sod-all.

[Francis Maube]

Statistics are always interesting, especially when you start looking at the details. 100,000 tigers in the wild a hundred year ago? Challenging the number in an informed way would probably be rather difficult. It still makes me wonder how people were counting tigers in 1906. Does throwing numbers that no one can verify count as manipulating minds?

[Nignoy]

Seems pretty amazing that the authorities responsible didn't close down the Zoo following the earlier tiger sale to China and the discovery of all those "illegally imported" orang utangs there (or was that another place?). Suppose the cops and other officials who swarmed into the place during earlier raids just "forgot" to notice and ask for documentation for the 450 tigers.

It'll be pat on the back time at CITES now, and then back to business as normal next month when the journos and NGOs have gone home. Or perhaps not? Perhaps this time it signals a more serious stance on wildlife trafficking in the Kingdom. Would be good news for the long suffering and fast - dwindling endangered animals of Asia if so............

Just for the record, the orangutans were at Safari World, outside BKK.

And YES, let's all hope that things do NOT go back to the status quo after CITES is over and Thailand resumes it's place as one of the biggest shopping centers for illegal animals in the world.

As a retired Zoo Curator,just to correct the above statement, The biggest shopping centre for endangered species is Belgium,where with the right currency today you can purchase anything from a Bonobo to a snow leopard no questions asked and sadly many established zoos still do!! with Germany a close second, we did a 3 part documentary in the 90,s for the BBC on this subject which raised a few eyebrows Nignoy

[mazo]

Can anyone tell me if the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo is now open or closed ? please.

[sriracha john]

Seems pretty amazing that the authorities responsible didn't close down the Zoo following the earlier tiger sale to China and the discovery of all those "illegally imported" orang utangs there (or was that another place?). Suppose the cops and other officials who swarmed into the place during earlier raids just "forgot" to notice and ask for documentation for the 450 tigers.

It'll be pat on the back time at CITES now, and then back to business as normal next month when the journos and NGOs have gone home. Or perhaps not? Perhaps this time it signals a more serious stance on wildlife trafficking in the Kingdom. Would be good news for the long suffering and fast - dwindling endangered animals of Asia if so............

Just for the record, the orangutans were at Safari World, outside BKK.

And YES, let's all hope that things do NOT go back to the status quo after CITES is over and Thailand resumes it's place as one of the biggest shopping centers for illegal animals in the world.

As a retired Zoo Curator,just to correct the above statement, The biggest shopping centre for endangered species is Belgium,where with the right currency today you can purchase anything from a Bonobo to a snow leopard no questions asked and sadly many established zoos still do!! with Germany a close second, we did a 3 part documentary in the 90,s for the BBC on this subject which raised a few eyebrows Nignoy

With all due deference to Belgiums' number one position, Thailand as one of the biggest is desperately trying its best to take over that coveted position. Not content with the Bronze, which it feels lacks sufficient acknowledgement for its many endangered species trade, they struggle for the Gold.

Edited December 17, 2006 by sriracha john

[Nignoy]

Seems pretty amazing that the authorities responsible didn't close down the Zoo following the earlier tiger sale to China and the discovery of all those "illegally imported" orang utangs there (or was that another place?). Suppose the cops and other officials who swarmed into the place during earlier raids just "forgot" to notice and ask for documentation for the 450 tigers.

It'll be pat on the back time at CITES now, and then back to business as normal next month when the journos and NGOs have gone home. Or perhaps not? Perhaps this time it signals a more serious stance on wildlife trafficking in the Kingdom. Would be good news for the long suffering and fast - dwindling endangered animals of Asia if so............

Just for the record, the orangutans were at Safari World, outside BKK.

And YES, let's all hope that things do NOT go back to the status quo after CITES is over and Thailand resumes it's place as one of the biggest shopping centers for illegal animals in the world.

As a retired Zoo Curator,just to correct the above statement, The biggest shopping centre for endangered species is Belgium,where with the right currency today you can purchase anything from a Bonobo to a snow leopard no questions asked and sadly many established zoos still do!! with Germany a close second, we did a 3 part documentary in the 90,s for the BBC on this subject which raised a few eyebrows Nignoy

With all due deference to Belgiums' number one position, Thailand as one of the biggest is desperately trying its best to take over that coveted position. Not content with the Bronze, which it feels lacks sufficient acknowledgement for its many endangered species trade, they struggle for the Gold.

Thailand is but one small 3rd world country with a short list of endangered species,the point I was trying to make was! that the international traders in Cites species in Belgium and germany deal in in endangered species from all over the world, which tragic, though they are the dealings in thailand are tiny in comparison, Nignoy

[kash]

Still open or not?

[leisurely]

Sadly, I belive it still is

[mouse]

Just goes to proove that the rule that....... money talks and BS walks .... is prevelant in LOS. A Thai aquaintace of mine has 4 full grown Tigers but, somehow managed to aquire a legal permit to maintain them.

[Tony Clifton]

[Thailand is but one small 3rd world country with a short list of endangered species,the point I was trying to make was! that the international traders in Cites species in Belgium and germany deal in in endangered species from all over the world, which tragic, though they are the dealings in thailand are tiny in comparison, Nignoy

How long is Thailand's list of extinct species compared to today's list of endagered species?

[sriracha john]

UPDATE... and a long overdue investigation of the tiger death pit misnamed a "zoo"

Export of tigers to be probed

Conservationists have hailed a move by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to investigate the export of 100 tigers to China. Surapon Duangkhae, secretary-general of Wildlife Fund Thailand, said the investigation was a crucial step in dealing with the illegal wildlife trade that is thriving due to poor law enforcement. ''Investigators should find out where the tigers came from _ whether from Sri Racha Tiger Zoo :D in Chon Buri as claimed by the zoo owner _ or from natural forests.'' He said the zoo owners have not been able to show the origin of the tigers, which is required in the export procedures.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Dec2006_news15.php

UPDATE... with a GUILTY verdict!

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 Plodprasop 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 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

======================================================================

Now that the government official has been found guilty, let's nail the owners and shut down this Tiger In-Breeding Production Factory & Death-trap, masquerading as a zoo.

[sriracha john]

The Guilty Plodprasop Suraswadi

[Nignoy]

Really Pleased that a decision, has been made, sadly throughout the world the rich and famous will always be able to buy endangered species as private pets,a world famous Knightsbridge store still guarantees to be able to supply any animal you desire(as long as you can PAY) Many reputable zoos dispose of their surplus stock this way, There is a reputable firm In Roetgen on the German Belgian Border where for the right price you can purchase the prepared skin of Any Big Cat , no questions asked, as long as there is a market there will always be people without conscience who will sell endangered species Nignoy

[brahmburgers]

Chinese seem to eat anything with four legs, Tiger dishes seem to be prized because of the so-called exotic taste and reputed health-giving properties.

it would seem private mass production was outside the law for a long period of time for these endangered species - protected does not mean that they are safe from the asian dinner table through profiteer doorways of vietnam or the usual route of burma....

they (the illegal breeders) get about $1200 dollars for one tiger...its not a lot for such a beautiful and endangered species. throw the ######## in the main pit and forget they exist.

I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head - as regards the insatiable Chinese appetite for endangered animals' body parts - particularly to enhance their mens' flagging totem poles.

And what about law-enforcement (is that an oxymoron in Thailand?) and other authorities who admit they knew the biz was going on for years - and apparently allowed it happen? Will anyone get more than a tranferral to the MIP (Ministry of Inactive Posts)? ....to read comic books and watch Tellytubies (yes, I once saw a Thai police captain sitting in his office at mid-day intently watching Teletubies kiddie show on a large TV which hovered over his desk).

[Scott]

So, if the zoo is still open, what can you see if they have no tigers?

[brahmburgers]

[Thailand is but one small 3rd world country with a short list of endangered species,the point I was trying to make was! that the international traders in Cites species in Belgium and germany deal in in endangered species from all over the world, which tragic, though they are the dealings in thailand are tiny in comparison, Nignoy

How long is Thailand's list of extinct species compared to today's list of endagered species?

good question. Here in northernmost Thailand, there are no wild mammals other than the very rare mouse. Neither are there large birds, no gryphons, no storks, no vultures, no eagles, no hawks, no toucans, no parrots - and if you're outside (as I am) you're lucky to see one little raptor in a year's time. The largest commonly seen bird is a pheasant shaped black and brown bird related to a crow. I asked a hill triber why his people didn't kill it to eat - as they kill everything else with any nutrition. He said the reason they don't kill that bird is that it eats carrion so its flesh doesn't taste good. The little birds get trapped in nets - to sell in the market to people to release 'for merit.'

It's a rough trying to be a wild animal in Thailand during these times of rapacious human expansion. Dogs and chickens don't mind, though.