Phuket officials seize another baby elephant from a photo tout

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

Phuket Livestock officials led by Surajit Witchuwan (in blue shirt) seized 4-year-old elephant ‘Namwan’ in Mai Khao yesterday afternoon (Aug 3). Photo: Phuket Provincial Livestock Office

 

PHUKET: -- Officials have seized another baby elephant in Phuket being used by touts to charge tourists money to have their photo taken with the iconic animal.

 

Livestock officers seized 4-year-old “Namwan” at the “Mai Khao Mart”, near Mai Khao Plaza at the northern end of Phuket, yesterday afternoon (Aug 3) after a tip-off from undercover police.

 

“When officials arrived we found the mahout with Namwan asking tourists to have their photo taken with the elephant,” said Surajit Witchuwan of the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office.

 

“We don’t know where Namwan was born; we are still checking details on the microchip,” Mr Surajit added.

 

“However, Namwan’s owner, Suwatchai Kamthip, has admitted to bringing her from Phang Nga to Phuket without a permit,” he said.

Mr Surajit estimated that Namwan was valued at about B1.8 million.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-officials-seize-another-baby-elephant-from-a-photo-tout-58553.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2016-08-05

TAKE HIM BACK TO HIS MOM!!!!!!!!!! 

Interesting how these articles about elephants always talk about "estimated to be valued at X THB". How about leaving these nice animals be free and happy instead of viewing them as slaves with a price tag?

........we are still checking details on the microchip,” 

 

Ah, the wonders of technology. I didn't realise that it took so long for the display on a microchip to show the data. No wonder I have to queue so long at supermarket checkouts.

The jaundiced eye would read these latest baby elephant seizures as another attempt by the Thai 'authorities' to show they're 'doing something' about the Bad Things On Phuket. Meanwhile, everything remains the same.

16 hours ago, dageurreotype said:

The jaundiced eye would read these latest baby elephant seizures as another attempt by the Thai 'authorities' to show they're 'doing something' about the Bad Things On Phuket. Meanwhile, everything remains the same.

 

There was a baby elephant on Bang Tao beach yesterday. The tout was charging 200 baht for the food and 400 baht for a ride.

 

Guess they missed this one.