New ID Cards Planned To Protect Thailand's Elephants

[webfact]

New ID cards planned to protect elephants

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A new type of identity card should be issued for elephants, which should have embedded microchips, an updated photograph every six months and an updated record of every unique change, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said yesterday.

The proposal will be taken to the Interior Ministry, and if it is okayed, permission for the movement of every elephant will have to come from provincial governors.

This should make illegal movement or getting the pachyderms to beg more difficult, permanent secretary Chote Trachoo said.

The current identity cards used for elephants are easy to forge, while some continue being used after the elephant is dead.

Since officials have limited knowledge about the animals, they are prone to getting fooled by mahouts using false or forged identity cards.

He said the registration of elephants should be jointly conducted by other agencies, including the Livestock Development Department or Department of National Parks (DNP).

At present, Thailand has some 2,000 domesticated elephants and 3,000 in the wild.

The ministry is also considering other measures to stop poaching and abuse of elephants, stopping the trade of ivory and elephant meat, setting up a 6,000rai national elephant shelter in Surin as well as setting up a fund to provide elephant feed.

DNP directorgeneral Damrang Phidej said he was expecting the Interior Ministry to push the proposal through and that DNA samples, which cost about Bt1,500, should also be used to identify elephants in addition to microchips.

-- The Nation 2012-02-02

[steve down under]

And where the heck does an Elephant keep it ID card ????

[Braveheart24]

It is sad that the level of intelligence demonstrated here is so low. Racehorses have been ID'd with a tattoo for years. Unique number for each animal.

Further. Every Elephant has a unique pattern on it's trunk. More difficult to identify but possible.

[sparebox2]

Does my wife qualified to get that ID? She weigh about the same.

[DP25]

It is sad that the level of intelligence demonstrated here is so low. Racehorses have been ID'd with a tattoo for years. Unique number for each animal.

Further. Every Elephant has a unique pattern on it's trunk. More difficult to identify but possible.

I don't know about trunk patterns but a tattoo could be copied and wouldn't stop them from capturing wild elephants and giving it the number of an already dead domestic elephant. The mahouts can't forge DNA

[Payboy]

And where the heck does an Elephant keep it ID card ????

Elephant foreskins make good wallets, I heard. Caress them a little and you have a suitcase.

[thenewgoo]

Are the ID cards bulletproof?

[joboss]

Does my wife qualified to get that ID? She weigh about the same.

haha but who wants to check her ID?

[ballpoint]

And where the heck does an Elephant keep it ID card ????

It packs it in its trunk.

[Reasonableman]

Let's hope they're smart cards, elephantine in size, made of kevlar, and give these lovely beasties great discounts at the local markets. Maybe even Frequent Flyer Points?

[PoodMaiDai]

Policeman Porn: Here is another dead elephant.

Gov Offcial Somchai: Does he have an ID card?

Policeman Porn: Chai krupt.

Gov Offcial Somchai: Is it made from anything we can sell?

Policeman Porn: Chai, but you'll need about 10 of them to make 100 baht.

Gov Offcial Somchai: Ok krupt, lets kill 9 more elephants and blame it on tourists who want to eat elephant penis.

[thequietman]

And where the heck does an Elephant keep it ID card ????

they used to keep them in their trunks but fashion dictates they carry them in a purse.

[thequietman]

And where the heck does an Elephant keep it ID card ????

Elephant foreskins make good wallets, I heard. Caress them a little and you have a suitcase.

why do elephants have 4 feet ? cause they,d look silly with 6 inches.

[PoodMaiDai]

How did the ID card idea work out for kids? I'm going to guess it was a total failure but I could be wrong. The Thai gov fails so much I no longer follow up on any of the things they *try* to do.

However, I'm sure those child ID cards will come in handy when they are trafficked and sold into prostitution or slave labor.

[soiselee]

I think every elephant should have a facebook page as well.

[JAG]

They could trumpet - its a bit like twitter only louder!