Thai Elephants Are Being Killed For Tourist Dollars

[webfact]

Thai elephants are being killed for tourist dollars

Edwin Wiek

Special to The Nation

News on elephants in Thailand since the start of this year has been dominated by the brutal killing of wild tuskers in Kaeng Krachan and Kui Buri national parks.

At least six wild elephants have been found dead within three weeks - and this is probably just the tip of the iceberg. Both national parks occupy a very large area, with Kaeng Krachan being Thailand's biggest national park. Combined, the two national parks are home to at least 500 wild elephants.

In one of the first interviews after the discovery of five dead elephants, one government official alleged that these animals were killed to provide elephant meat and sexual organs for consumption at wildlife "bush-meat" restaurants on Phuket, for visiting foreign tourists. This news was extremely shocking to a big part of Thai society, but to date it has not been proven right. In fact, neither the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NRECD), or the office of the Phuket governor, have found any evidence that such a place exists. Nor can the official that made the statement give any weight to his claim. It seems like a deliberately made-up claim, for whatever reason, but the real reason for the killing of these elephants could be explained in a much easier way.

The value of young elephants at camps nationwide has soared because not enough babies are being born in captivity to meet the demand. Although we see stories in the news every now and then about the birth of babies at elephant camps, there are just not enough captive-born calves. This gap in demand and supply is reflected in the prices camp owners and businessmen are willing to pay. A two- to four-year-old female, for example, can now fetch a staggering Bt800,000 or Bt900,000.

Baby elephants are being taken out of the jungle in Thailand at any cost. Mothers are being shot and even their nannies and sub-adult males still with the herd, trying to protect the calves. Poachers, who have been interviewed, say it is common to kill up to three elephants to take one baby from the forest. Once a few elephants are killed, the baby elephant stays close to the dead adults while the rest of the herd usually runs for safety. Poachers then have limited time to get the baby out, fearing the return of the herd and/or any witnesses attracted by the sound of gunshots. This explains why some dead elephants have been found with their tusks intact. Removing and selling the tusks would be very lucrative - a small pair would easily fetch Bt100,000 - but it takes too much time.

Groups of poachers like these will receive about Bt300,000 from middlemen for baby elephants at specific places such as Suan Phueng in Ratchaburi and Sai Yok in Kanchanaburi. But this also occurs in the North, in areas such as Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces.

Once the babies have been taken away from the forest, they are moved to "safe houses" in border areas controlled by corrupt politicians, government officials and influential businessmen. Here, the young are "tamed" through week-long torture rituals to break their spirit. In many cases, they are then introduced to a "foster-mother", a captive female elephant. This introduction is particularly important for the future transportation of the elephant out of areas controlled by the criminals.

When transported, baby elephants are often said to be the offspring of the captive (legally owned) older female. The law in Thailand stipulates that any captive-born offspring needs to be registered - within nine years - so, this is a major loophole open to abuse.

Lately, however, gangs have been moving baby elephants in the back of closed, modified pick-up trucks. This is even more daring, and shows they have little fear of being caught, which is a clear sign they are backed up by influential people.

The profit for these gangs is huge, with elephant camps paying up to Bt900,000 for a baby, but the gang only paying the poachers about Bt300,000. Aside from some "costs" such as bribing officials on the way, they can make up to Bt500,000 per elephant.

It has been estimated that baby elephants are transported through Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi at least twice a week. This suggests an annual turnover of at least 100 elephants, or Bt80-90 million, with a profit of Bt50 million for the smuggling gang.

In the recent past, the Thai government always denied that smuggled elephants were from Thailand, claiming they came from Burma. However, the latest findings in Kaeng Krachan and Kui Buri indicate that this is a problem that also exists in Thailand and that it urgently needs to be taken seriously.

There is no need for denial; action has to be taken and it has to be transparent.

For any tourist visiting an elephant camp and riding these beautiful animals, the latest information has serious implications. People who ignore what is occurring effectively support the killing and torture of wild-born elephants.

For any government official or politician denying the above, I challenge them to visit the elephant camps in Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui, Chiang Mai, Phuket, or anywhere else in the country, and force the owners of all elephants of up to 20 years of age to allow a DNA check on their animals. That would verify whether young elephants really are the offspring of their alleged "mothers".

I strongly believe that over half of all young elephants in tourist camps nationwide are wild-caught. You can prove me wrong by undertaking a long-overdue DNA check. Indeed, I challenge you to verify the status of these glorious animals. This is the only way to reveal the true status of all young elephants and to wipe out this evil trade and the slaughter of a national icon.

Edwin Wiek is secretary-general of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT). He can be contacted at [email protected]. See www.wfft.org.

-- The Nation 2012-01-24

[jerrysteve]

What a horrible tragedy

[Buchholz]

one government official alleged that these animals were killed to provide elephant meat and sexual organs for consumption at wildlife "bush-meat" restaurants on Phuket, for visiting foreign tourists

It seems like a deliberately made-up claim, for whatever reason

The reason is rudimentary and common place.

It displaces the blame onto foreigners as the reason for the killing of elephants... instead of on the locals.

.

[Misterwhisper]

Since that - unfortunately unnamed - government officials seems to be so eager to once again blame this tragedy on "foreign tourists" in an attempt to divert attention away from the real culprits, greedy locals, perhaps any investigation should start at his door step. By making these unfounded claims it looks to me like he were involved somehow.

Isn't there a system in place that tracks baby elephants born in captivity, perhaps being fitted with an electronic imbedded in their ear or something? That would perhaps make it easier to distinguish between elephants born in the wild from those bred in captivity. But then again, there probably would be more than enough corrypt officials who would issue such an electronic tag for appropriate tea money...

[canopy]

It displaces the blame onto foreigners as the reason for the killing of elephants... instead of on the locals.

Well said, but those who skim the headlines won't ever understand the truth or reach this conclusion. This is an unbelievably creative headline considering the author writes "but to date it has not been proven right. In fact, neither the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NRECD), or the office of the Phuket governor, have found any evidence that such a place exists. Nor can the official that made the statement give any weight to his claim. It seems like a deliberately made-up claim"

The title should have read that elephants are being killed by greedy karen people indifferent to these majestic creatures in order to line their own pockets with illegal money.

Removing and selling the tusks would be very lucrative - a small pair would easily fetch Bt100,000 - but it takes too much time.

This is the one encouraging part of the article. The forestry department is out there doing their best to thwart the efforts of the hill tribes rather than turning a blind eye. This is different than what happens in my hill tribe area.

For any tourist visiting an elephant camp and riding these beautiful animals, the latest information has serious implications. People who ignore what is occurring effectively support the killing and torture of wild-born elephants.

This is something we can do to help. But most are uninformed. If it really is this serious, then put signs in front of the elephant camps explaining so people can make an informed decision.

[JeremyBowskill]

dam_n those pesky tourists corrupting good honest Thais. Theres never a day goes by here in Chiang Mai when some terrible tourist doesnt stop me in the street asking where the nearest place he can get an elephant genital burger is!

[Ricardo]

Didn't the Chiang Mai Night-Safari once propose an exotic-meats buffet at 4,000B/person, and attract world-wide bad-publicity as a result, perhaps Dr Plodprasop (now Science Minister) might clarify the government's current-position on elephant-meat for tourists ?

Or perhaps he doesn't remember ...

[Buchholz]

Since that - unfortunately unnamed - government officials seems to be so eager to once again blame this tragedy on "foreign tourists" in an attempt to divert attention away from the real culprits, greedy locals, perhaps any investigation should start at his door step. By making these unfounded claims it looks to me like he were involved somehow.

Isn't there a system in place that tracks baby elephants born in captivity, perhaps being fitted with an electronic imbedded in their ear or something? That would perhaps make it easier to distinguish between elephants born in the wild from those bred in captivity. But then again, there probably would be more than enough corrypt officials who would issue such an electronic tag for appropriate tea money...

Yes, for the best interests of the elephant's life, it would probably best for it if it was NOT easily track-able with an electronic finder.

.

[Buchholz]

Didn't the Chiang Mai Night-Safari once propose an exotic-meats buffet at 4,000B/person, and attract world-wide bad-publicity as a result, perhaps Dr Plodprasop (now Science Minister) might clarify the government's current-position on elephant-meat for tourists ?

Or perhaps he doesn't remember ...

The current "Small Boats In A Swollen, Flooded River Will Have An Impact" Science Minister, incidentally, the richest Cabinet Minister, in a previous role where he put elephant on the menu.

Pheu Thai Party-list MP and former Chiang Mai Night Safari Project Director, Plodprasop Suraswadi

Chiang Mai Safari: Rare Animals On The Menu At Zoo, Eat lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe meat

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.

http://www.thaivisa....post__p__549707

[bangkapi]

Tourists from what countries?

[crusader79]

Tourists from what countries?

I would guess mainland China, to start.

[HerbalEd]

one government official alleged that these animals were killed to provide elephant meat and sexual organs for consumption at wildlife "bush-meat" restaurants on Phuket, for visiting foreign tourists

It seems like a deliberately made-up claim, for whatever reason

The reason is rudimentary and common place.

It displaces the blame onto foreigners as the reason for the killing of elephants... instead of on the locals.

.

What?? I must have read a different article that what you're quoting.

[Card]

one government official alleged that these animals were killed to provide elephant meat and sexual organs for consumption at wildlife "bush-meat" restaurants on Phuket, for visiting foreign tourists

It seems like a deliberately made-up claim, for whatever reason

The reason is rudimentary and common place.

It displaces the blame onto foreigners as the reason for the killing of elephants... instead of on the locals.

.

So how is it different from the alternative explanation by a westerner that the adults are shot so that the babies can be sent to camps where foreign tourists pay to ride them - same, same.

Edited January 24, 2012 by Card

[BookMan]

The government official was right to blame the foreign tourist for the elephants death. He just got the reason wrong. It isn't for the meat and sexual organs, it is for the tourist trade. Either way, the foreign tourists, are of course, to blame.

[h90]

Tourists from what countries?

I would guess mainland China, to start.

Taiwanese are nothing better

[Ricardo]

Didn't the Chiang Mai Night-Safari once propose an exotic-meats buffet at 4,000B/person, and attract world-wide bad-publicity as a result, perhaps Dr Plodprasop (now Science Minister) might clarify the government's current-position on elephant-meat for tourists ?

Or perhaps he doesn't remember ...

The current "Small Boats In A Swollen, Flooded River Will Have An Impact" Science Minister, incidentally, the richest Cabinet Minister, in a previous role where he put elephant on the menu.

Pheu Thai Party-list MP and former Chiang Mai Night Safari Project Director, Plodprasop Suraswadi

Chiang Mai Safari: Rare Animals On The Menu At Zoo, Eat lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe meat

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.

http://www.thaivisa....post__p__549707

Dr Plodprasop would appear to be in the ideal position, as PTP Minister for Science, to arrange to carry-out the genetic survey which the WFFT are asking for ?

Let's hope he does this rapidly, in order to avoid any further bad-publicity about his former enthusiasm, for exotic-meat buffets.

[fred110]

Well, Thai women have been "eating" sexual organs of foreign tourists for years!

[TechnikaIII]

one government official alleged that these animals were killed to provide elephant meat and sexual organs for consumption at wildlife "bush-meat" restaurants on Phuket, for visiting foreign tourists

It seems like a deliberately made-up claim, for whatever reason

The reason is rudimentary and common place.

It displaces the blame onto foreigners as the reason for the killing of elephants... instead of on the locals.

.

It takes two to tango, so let's not absolve the foreigners altogether. It's the same as attacking prostitutes and letting the users go free. Tourists can not use the "I didn't know" argument forever and about everything. But I certainly would dump this case at the feet of the tourism authority and tell them to clean up their acts. It goes all the way to the tour agents in Thailand and the travel bureaus abroad. A well planned media campaign needs to be planned and put into action.

(And no thanks, I will not be doing all of this myself. I'm already committed with a substantial amount of unpaid time on another issue.)

[jeanelie]

disgusting!

[DocN]

Well, Thai women have been "eating" sexual organs of foreign tourists for years!

Funny...not!

[DocN]

Yep...them dam foreigners again!

Here is an idea to think about: next time, some foreign tourist demands something illegal or immoral...how about saying "NO!"?

[Hyponeros]

Here again we see that Thais don't respect anything besides money! Not even their emblematic animal.

Thais are so proud and arrogant. Keeps pretending to love their country and get angry at foreigners criticizing Thailand but they prove everyday that they don't care about their own country. They care only about the money the lack of law enforcement and the corruption allow them to make!

Shame on them, shame on politicians, shame on the police and shame on all those who make profit out of this disgusting business.

[MILT]

This story is so generalizing.

Their are some people in Thailand making huge money on this abuse of elephant, Save The Elephants bla bla bla. I have visited the elephant camps there are no baby elephants being ridden. Plain common sense tells me this story is BS. There could be a million reasons why people are killing the wild elephants.

[el jefe]

Yep...them dam foreigners again!

Here is an idea to think about: next time, some foreign tourist demands something illegal or immoral...how about saying "NO!"?

How do you say "No!" when a tourist says they want to go to an elephant camp or a tiger park?

[el jefe]

This story is so generalizing.

Their are some people in Thailand making huge money on this abuse of elephant, Save The Elephants bla bla bla. I have visited the elephant camps there are no baby elephants being ridden. Plain common sense tells me this story is BS. There could be a million reasons why people are killing the wild elephants.

Just about every elephant camp in northern Thailand has baby elephants. Mae Sa has two that are under a year old plus several others that are 1-4 years old. The elephant camp in Mae Win has two that look about 2 years old. Even the Chiang Mai zoo has young elephants.

If there are "a million reasons why people are killing the wild elephants", and selling the ivory is not one of them, how about giving us just one or two other reasons.

[RichardL]

one government official alleged that these animals were killed to provide elephant meat and sexual organs for consumption at wildlife "bush-meat" restaurants on Phuket, for visiting foreign tourists

It seems like a deliberately made-up claim, for whatever reason

The reason is rudimentary and common place.

It displaces the blame onto foreigners as the reason for the killing of elephants... instead of on the locals.

.

It takes two to tango, so let's not absolve the foreigners altogether. It's the same as attacking prostitutes and letting the users go free. Tourists can not use the "I didn't know" argument forever and about everything.

That's like blaming the pie shop customers for Sweeney Todd's murders.

Tourists would never suspect young elephants are being captured this way. Why would they?

[bkk75]

How about a novel idea? All foreign companies leave Thailand, all embassies issue warnings to stop visiting Thailand, and all retirees leave Thailand.

Lets see then how well tourism and all the tourist schemes will fair. Leave Thailand to their own misery; whether if it's their overtly corrupt system or the rich stepping all over the poor.

Wait a century then everyone can come back and see if things have improved...who am I kidding!!

I do feel sorry for the poor elephants...karma for the hunters and rotten officials turning a blind eye.

[ricky2002]

[When transported, baby elephants are often said to be the offspring of the captive (legally owned) older female. The law in Thailand stipulates that any captive-born offspring needs to be registered - within nine years - so, this is a major loophole open to abuse.]

Easy; close the above loophole and get DNA tests done on the ones now in captivity.

[bkk75]

[When transported, baby elephants are often said to be the offspring of the captive (legally owned) older female. The law in Thailand stipulates that any captive-born offspring needs to be registered - within nine years - so, this is a major loophole open to abuse.]

Easy; close the above loophole and get DNA tests done on the ones now in captivity.

Good luck with that law change and who's to stop the tea money from people who collect the DNA...

It's a vicious cycle...

[oldsailor35]

one government official alleged that these animals were killed to provide elephant meat and sexual organs for consumption at wildlife "bush-meat" restaurants on Phuket, for visiting foreign tourists

It seems like a deliberately made-up claim, for whatever reason

The reason is rudimentary and common place.

It displaces the blame onto foreigners as the reason for the killing of elephants... instead of on the locals.

.

Typical and to be expected as we all know that just about everything not good in Thailand is caused by foreigners.

But i should think that if these parts really are being eaten then it would only be by the Chinese tourists. Us european foreigners only eat pussy !