Jumbo problem: elephant trafficking gets officials to reconsider laws
Nattha Thepbamrung


Jumbo problem: elephant trafficking gets officials to reconsider laws

PHUKET: -- Phuket authorities warned that the number of elephants need to be reduced following the discovery of six elephants being illegally transferred into Phuket.

The six suspected elephants were travelling from Had Yai when complaints about the noise and pollution were made by several villagers living around the Noparat Elephant Camp in Kathu.

The elephants arrived at the check point in Thachatchai at around 10pm on October 2.

“The elephants were found holding incomplete licenses the morning after they arrived in Phuket,” said Weerasit Puttipairot, Phuket Provincial Livestock Office Chief.

“We initially didn’t block them as they appeared to have travelling licenses, but the next morning we discovered they didn’t have a permit to stay in Phuket.”

Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhawsuthirak said, “There is no law to decrease the number of elephants in Phuket, it is only a policy. Other laws will be combined in order to make the policy effective.

“In this case, the elephants obviously do not have a permit but the Environment Act can be used, as the operator brought them into the area, caused pollution and disturbed nearby villagers.”

Prajiad Aksornthammakul, Damrongtham Center Chief, also explained about the need to reduce the number of elephants due to the lack of natural resources and space.

“Around 10 years ago, there were almost 1,000 elephants in Phuket. There were many problems as we just don’t have the space, so the the governor launched the policy.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/jumbo-problem-elephant-trafficking-gets-officials-to-reconsider-laws-49165.php


-- Phuket News 2014-10-16

The elephants were found holding incomplete licenses

the elephants obviously do not have a permit

Shame on them. Law abiding elephants who stick to the rules will be highly annoyed, these rogue elephants are giving all elephants a bad name.

"The elephants arrived at the check point in Thachatchai at around 10pm on October 2."

Right - the best time to offer some inducement to process the limited paperwork. Wink wink ...

Disgraceful.

The elephants have neither passports nor visas nor work permits.

Since the aliens are all on overstay they should be fined 20,000 THB each and returned to their country of origin.

"the Environment Act can be used, as the operator brought them into the area, caused pollution and disturbed nearby villagers.

So- Longtail boats and belching tour busses to serve tourists are acceptable but Elephant poop is considered pollution?

Elephants have been pooping for millennia and were a natural part of the ecosystem. More Elephants and fewer tourists seem like a more appropriate approach towards protecting the environment.

Did they travel on a trunk road? A good proof reader?

The Elephants were found holding incomplete licenses and no permit to stay in Phuket,,,,Wow that's law breaking sin The Elephants didn't carry a purse/elephant bag,must have left Hat yai in a hurry