40 elephants suspected illegal as raids strike tourism trekking companies
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Officers from the regional Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division raided seven tour companies in Phang Nga this week following reports that the companies were in possession of illegal elephants.

Col Watcharin Phusit, who headed the elephant raids in Phuket last year, also led the raids north of Phuket.

“We investigated the ATV Tour Company, Pang Kaew elephant camp, Andaman Adventures Co Ltd, Song Phraek Rafting Company, Anda Adventures Company, Best Rafting For You Company and Pang Sealand elephant camp,” said Col Watcharin.

“These seven companies train elephants to perform shows and provide trekking tours to tourists. All of them are located in Song Phraek, in Muang District, Phang Nga,” he added.

The officers found a total of 40 elephants they suspect of being acquired illegally.

“We also found that some of the companies have encroached into protected forest lands,” Col Watcharin said.

“We questioned tour company operators about the elephants and asked to see elephant registration documents, but our investigation remains inconclusive. We still cannot say if those 40 elephants are illegal since the operators could not give us clear information,” he said.

Col Watcharin is now assembling a team of about 100 officers to conduct further investigation.

“If we found out the elephants are illegal, we will press serious charges against the tour operators,” he warned.

Col Watcharin did not elaborate on whether the raids would be extended into Phuket.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/40-elephants-suspected-illegal-as-raids-strike-tourism-trekking-companies-20942.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-04

Latest update : The elephants were found to be illegal and deported with black stamps in their passports saying "Do Not Return".

Col Watcharin Phusit has been sent for language training as his brief was to target illegal immigrants.

Over stay & no work permit! I am sure they where speaking Russian, in Elephant of course!

40 elephants suspected illegal as raids strike tourism trekking companies

Wow! Immigration are really taking their crackdown to extremes... Were they Russian elephants?

We still cannot say if those 40 elephants are illegal since the operators could not give us clear information,”

one would think that that would indicate that they are in fact, not legal.

The officers found a total of 40 elephants they suspect of being acquired illegally.

Huge grey market that.

Why do the police have to question the owners or operators to decide whether its a violation? Either they have registration papers or they don't and if the animals are older than 8 years old with no registration then they are illegal. The default action should be to confiscate the animals until papers are produced.

So why not treat people the same way, instead of being punitive towards illegal human workers and playing paddy fingers with the owners of illegal human workers?

It seems odd that animal rights demands the kind of treatment that is never considered for human beings. It seems the roles for treatment of animals and humans by government has reversed in the past fifty years; fair and unfair... Just and unjust.

Simply a thought.

40 elephants suspected illegal as raids strike tourism trekking companies

Wow! Immigration are really taking their crackdown to extremes... Were they Russian elephants?

Some of the elephants had work permits, but were still fined 500 baht for working "topless."

Elephants to trumpet their displeasure of the ruling at mass meeting. Bring your own shovel.

Why do the police have to question the owners or operators to decide whether its a violation? Either they have registration papers or they don't and if the animals are older than 8 years old with no registration then they are illegal. The default action should be to confiscate the animals until papers are produced.

How exactly do you find out an elephants age ? ask him ? he might lie anyway, I mean it must be hard to tell the difference between an elephant of 8 yrs and one who is 7 yrs 10 months ?

Nice headline......once the "permit" money changes hands it's all over...case closed yet again......!

Wow..these are some seriously good smugglers......40 illegal elephants on an island with only one bridge....I'm impressed

So we've got 100 MIB on the case..that's alot of policemen..but of course.. Phukkers does not need them to tackle any street-crimes etc does it..??

a number of off-topic posts removed

Wow..these are some seriously good smugglers......40 illegal elephants on an island with only one bridge....I'm impressed

You may wish to read the article again.

Song Phraek, Phang Nga

40 elephants suspected illegal as raids strike

Are you telling me they did not have a VISA?

to get into phuket they used their trunks as snorkels,come on its obvious,der,,i just moved to ubon from phang-nga and il bet its another elephant owner graasing up the others,,,

Why do the police have to question the owners or operators to decide whether its a violation? Either they have registration papers or they don't and if the animals are older than 8 years old with no registration then they are illegal. The default action should be to confiscate the animals until papers are produced.

How exactly do you find out an elephants age ? ask him ? he might lie anyway, I mean it must be hard to tell the difference between an elephant of 8 yrs and one who is 7 yrs 10 months ?

They have had special training to tell the difference of course.........

Why do the police have to question the owners or operators to decide whether its a violation? Either they have registration papers or they don't and if the animals are older than 8 years old with no registration then they are illegal. The default action should be to confiscate the animals until papers are produced.

How exactly do you find out an elephants age ? ask him ? he might lie anyway, I mean it must be hard to tell the difference between an elephant of 8 yrs and one who is 7 yrs 10 months ?

LoL...he might lie anyway