Bangkok's jumbos to be tagged, packed off home

Daily Xpress

Published on March 27, 2009

Under a joint effort by government and city administration officials, the 200 elephants that roam Bangkok's streets will be freed in the next two years and sent home.

Before they are repatriated to their origins outside Bangkok, the elephants will be implanted with microchips to track their future movements. Some 81 of the elephants are said to be sick or disabled and will be treated or rehabilitated by the government and various charity foundations.

Some elephants with entertainment skills will be sent to shows at zoos or venues outside or on the outskirts of Bangkok, including Safari World in north Bangkok, Suan Sam Phran in Nakhon Pathom, and Suan Nongnuch in Chon Buri.

About 100 elephants will simply be sent home and supported by a Bt12-million budget newly granted by the government. Each mahout will be paid Bt8,000 as a salary and Bt10,000 a month for food.

After being rounded up the elephants will be taken to a military compound in northern Bangkok, to be implanted with the microchips. All local administrative bodies will be asked to monitor the elephant population in their areas to make sure the pachyderms do not re-enter Bangkok.

A legal amendment to three laws will be implemented later to nullify regulations permitting elephants as a carriage animal, as well as heightening penalties against people who abuse them or take them to Bangkok.

Bangkok's jumbos to be tagged, packed off home

Daily Xpress

Published on March 27, 2009

Under a joint effort by government and city administration officials, the 200 elephants that roam Bangkok's streets will be freed in the next two years and sent home.

Before they are repatriated to their origins outside Bangkok, the elephants will be implanted with microchips to track their future movements. Some 81 of the elephants are said to be sick or disabled and will be treated or rehabilitated by the government and various charity foundations.

Some elephants with entertainment skills will be sent to shows at zoos or venues outside or on the outskirts of Bangkok, including Safari World in north Bangkok, Suan Sam Phran in Nakhon Pathom, and Suan Nongnuch in Chon Buri.

About 100 elephants will simply be sent home and supported by a Bt12-million budget newly granted by the government. Each mahout will be paid Bt8,000 as a salary and Bt10,000 a month for food.

After being rounded up the elephants will be taken to a military compound in northern Bangkok, to be implanted with the microchips. All local administrative bodies will be asked to monitor the elephant population in their areas to make sure the pachyderms do not re-enter Bangkok.

A legal amendment to three laws will be implemented later to nullify regulations permitting elephants as a carriage animal, as well as heightening penalties against people who abuse them or take them to Bangkok.

Not really enough, but it`s a start.

A legal amendment to three laws will be implemented later to nullify regulations permitting elephants as a carriage animal,

So no more elephant-rides, for the tourists, at the elephant-camps ? Seems unlikely.

in place of those 100, a new 100 elephants will come from the provinces to make their living. With the crisis deepening might be even more, and no law can do much about it - they are coming to Bangkok to survive starvation

discussed 2 weeks ago http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Project-Elep...amp;hl=elephant

Was in Khao Sarn Rd last night and there was baby elephant (about 4ft tall) get lots of attention from tourists, it was all quite cute then a police pick up came through with lights flashings and the elephant ran off down a side street with his mahout in pursuit ! It was comical as if the elephant had seen the rozzers and decided to make a run for it...

The police were escorting another vehicle so they were not concerned by the elephant runner.

Is it me or do the police only concentrate on the job they have been detailed to do and not bother about any other crimes going on in front of them??

Is it me or do the police only concentrate on the job they have been detailed to do and not bother about any other crimes going on in front of them??

Are you suggesting that the police actually concentrate on the job they have been detailed to?

It was comical as if the elephant had seen the rozzers and decided to make a run for it...

This is funny with a small elephant, it's a bit more concerning when you have a fully grown adult elephant 'doing a runner' down Soi Cowboy when it's busy.