Officials Seize 60 Animals At Unlicensed Thai Zoo
by Patricia Collier
In an ancient province of Thailand, near the Bangkok border, by police and wildlife protection officials last week confiscated 60 protected animals being kept illegally at a private zoo for the purpose of entertaining tourists.
Among the animals removed from the Elephant Kingdom zoo were four hornbills (said to be the largest and strongest birds not yet extinct), 19 cockatoos, two tigers, two orangutans, and 34 other animals including leopards, macaques, pythons, open-billed storks and masked palm civets. Masked palm civets, similar in appearance to badgers, are threatened due to deforestation in the region.
A Malayan Sun Bear, believed to be part of the zoo, had been found earlier that day wandering alongside the road.
The Elephant Kingdom zoo is a branch of the Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Samut Prakan, a province dating back to 1620. The zoo encompasses 400 rai, or a little over 6 acres, and is located in the Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district of the province, an area promoted heavily to tourists.
The crocodile farm, in the same compound as the zoo, had been holding 1,000 crocodiles in an area of about five rai, or a little over 2 acres.
Pol Maj-Gen Panya Mamen, chief of tourist police, said the application to operate Elephant Kingdom had been submitted August 9, 2002 by Uthane Youngpraphakorn, the zoo's managing director, but only four animals had been mentioned in the application.
However, the zoo has still not been granted a license. Officials are checking to see if the crocodile farm is licensed.
Uthane Youngpraphakorn has been charged with the illegal possession of wildlife animals. He could face a fine of up to 40,000 baht, $1,001.45 USD, or up to four years in prison.
Wildlife officials said they are clamping down on poaching and cross-country smuggling of wild animals in an effort to stop the illegal activities by the end of the year.
Thailand will host the meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 2004.
© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.
In an ancient province of Thailand, near the Bangkok border, by police and wildlife protection officials last week confiscated 60 protected animals being kept illegally at a private zoo for the purpose of entertaining tourists.
Among the animals removed from the Elephant Kingdom zoo were four hornbills (said to be the largest and strongest birds not yet extinct), 19 cockatoos, two tigers, two orangutans, and 34 other animals including leopards, macaques, pythons, open-billed storks and masked palm civets. Masked palm civets, similar in appearance to badgers, are threatened due to deforestation in the region.
A Malayan Sun Bear, believed to be part of the zoo, had been found earlier that day wandering alongside the road.
The Elephant Kingdom zoo is a branch of the Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Samut Prakan, a province dating back to 1620. The zoo encompasses 400 rai, or a little over 6 acres, and is located in the Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district of the province, an area promoted heavily to tourists.
The crocodile farm, in the same compound as the zoo, had been holding 1,000 crocodiles in an area of about five rai, or a little over 2 acres.
Pol Maj-Gen Panya Mamen, chief of tourist police, said the application to operate Elephant Kingdom had been submitted August 9, 2002 by Uthane Youngpraphakorn, the zoo's managing director, but only four animals had been mentioned in the application.
However, the zoo has still not been granted a license. Officials are checking to see if the crocodile farm is licensed.
Uthane Youngpraphakorn has been charged with the illegal possession of wildlife animals. He could face a fine of up to 40,000 baht, $1,001.45 USD, or up to four years in prison.
Wildlife officials said they are clamping down on poaching and cross-country smuggling of wild animals in an effort to stop the illegal activities by the end of the year.
Thailand will host the meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 2004.
© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.
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