Phuket: Khao Lak elephant camp raided, croc seized

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Phuket: Khao Lak elephant camp raided, croc seized
Nattha Thepbamrung


Santi Pawai (second from left) discusses paperwork with the owner of the camp (in orange shirt).

PHANG NGA: -- Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism & Sports Phuket office, visited Khaolak Elephant Camp yesterday (November 24) following complaints from tourists that the camp was keeping a gibbon – a protected species – and a crocodile.

“The four elephants in the camp are legal but the camp is keeping a Siamese crocodile in a improper cement enclosure, without a license,” he told the Phuket News.

“The complaint also mentioned that the camp had a gibbon that was being abused but we could not find it. We believe that it may already be dead.”

He said that the chief of Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park seized the crocodile and the owner was arrested, though protesting he had a license and just needed two weeks to find it.

Weerasit Putthipairot, Phuket Provincial Livestock Office chief, told the Phuket News that there might be other kinds of animals in the elephant camp but that safety was the priority.

“The most important thing is area management to ensure the safety of all animals inside, and of the visitors,” he said.

“In this case, the owner could build a concrete enclosure [for the crocodile] but it needs to done properly, in a way that protects people and elephants from the crocodile, as well as being appropriate for the crocodile itself.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/khao-lak-elephant-camp-raided-croc-seized-49814.php


-- Phuket News 2014-11-26

[HeijoshinCool]

He said that the chief of Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park seized the crocodile and the owner was arrested, though protesting he had a license and just needed two weeks to find it.

My crocodile ate it!

[uel1968]

The enclosure needs to be done properly,mmmm,wait,i thought all Thai work,and maintenance has always been done properly,NOT,hahaha.

[monkey4u]

2 weeks is more than enough time to buy a fake license

An easier way would be to put a price tag on the creature

When questioned just reply we are waiting to make the shoes and hand bag

[CTO]

I can imagine the phone call

"Hey Sombat, I have the cops here, I need a fake license for a croc, send me one"

Sorry mate, you haven't paid me for the fake elephant licences and the gibbon suit, so it will take two weeks,

"WAAAAAAAAA, dude, your killing me!"

[Strangebrew]

2 weeks plenty time for head start on runner .