Phuket elephants DNA tested to curtail trafficking

Phuket elephants DNA tested to curtail trafficking

Eakkapop Thongtub

Any elephants not correctly registered by next Thursday (Jan 26) will be seized and the owner will face legal action. Photo; Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Officials from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) yesterday took DNA samples from 67 elephants, including those that perform at the popular Phuket FantaSea tourist attraction in Kamala, as part of a drive to crackdown on elephants trafficked onto the island.

There are currently 222 elephants registered at 23 camps in Phuket, said Supot Praedpring, Director of the DNP regional office in Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

“Today we checked four elephant camps with 32 elephants all used by Phuket FantaSea as well as 20 elephants at Pang Chang Hai elephant camp, 13 elephants at Kalim elephant camp, and two elephants at Tritrang elephant camp,” Mr Supot said.

The DNA tests are part of a five-day campaign that began yesterday (Jan 18) to confirm the identity of all registered elephants on the island, including those used at tourst attractions and jungle-rekking tours, he explained.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-elephants-dna-tested-to-curtail-trafficking-60678.php

 

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