Siam Ocean World Reopens

Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alinassiri/3575629063/

Siam Ocean World was right in the centre of the recent political unrest and riots in Bangkok. In spite of the fires, destruction, shooting and no possible visitors the marine collection came to no harm.

Back up generators and dedication of staff ensured that everything 'ticked over'.

To celebrate the reopening Siam Ocean World is staging a show entitled 'Mythical Creatures from the Depths of Thai Legends' which will be worthy addition to the already interesting collection.

I have made three visits to this beautiful aquarium in the centre of Bangkok. The first was as a guest of one of the staff, the second was as a paying visitor. On my last visit, a little under a year ago, I turned away at the door. It really was too expensive for me, and I daresay a good proportion of tourists to Thailand. It is happy then that Thai nationals are able to visit at a reduced price.

For regular updated Zoo News, Views, Reviews and Vacancies please visit
 Zoo News Digest on

FACEBOOK

Learn More About Zoos and Aquariums by visiting

The Zoo Hubs
and subscribe to the largest and longest established zoo related ezine
by clicking

HERE

Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnjmck/734306862/ 

Elephants to Osaka?

Osaka Zoo wants to raise two Thai elephants
Bangkok Post - Published: 13/09/2009 at 12:00 AM

Bangkok and Tokyo will hold talks over a plan to send a pair of Thai elephants to a state zoo in Osaka, Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungruang said yesterday.

The minister, who is in Japan to promote trade cooperation, said the jumbos would be a "present to mark close trade ties between the two countries".

Japan had expressed strong interest in raising a pair of Thai elephants at its zoo in Osaka, which already has one Thai jumbo, Mr Charnchai said ahead of a meeting with the Japanese environment minister.

"Japan has been asking for the past six years if it can look after a pair of jumbos, but the Thai government has yet to reply," the minister told the Bangkok Post via telephone from Japan.
"Giving the elephants to an important trading partner such as Japan will be a good way to strengthen economic cooperation," Mr Charnchai said, adding he would discuss the issue with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti upon his return.

Animal rights groups and environmentalists say sending the elephants to Japan would send a wrong signal that Thailand supports trade in endangered wildlife.

Soraida Salwala, founder of the Bangkok-based Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, urged the minister to scrap the planned jumbo export.

"The government should keep the elephants here, while Tokyo should stop asking for the jumbos," said Ms Soraida.

Thailand had a bad image as one of the world's largest wildlife trade hubs.

Ms Soraida said many countries had asked Thailand to send Asian elephants to their zoos, including the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

Elephants are one of 51 wild animals listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which bans the export and import of listed animals except for educational and conservation purposes. However, some imports and exports of protected wild animals have been conducted under government-to-government animal exchange programmes.

Thailand has sent elephants to countries for educational purposes and to strengthen relations, such as the 2006 elephant-koala swap under which eight elephants were sent to zoos in Australia.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/23766/charnchai-backs-japanese-request-to-raise-two-jumbos-at-osaka-zoo

I really cannot see any problem with this move. It is only the loony rantings of the anti-zoos that present a hurdle. To even suggest that such a move implies "that Thailand supports trade in endangered wildlife" is so ridiculous that it cannot be seriously be taken on board by any rational human being.
It is all about reasoning and being sensible. Believe you me I would be at the very front of the anti's demonstration to protest about any elephant being sent to the Philippines. They do not have a zoo there which could cope nor offer accommodation. Okay Manila Zoo has an elephant but it has truly awful stabling.
Sri-Lanka? Different case altogether. Do they really need an Asian Elephant? Unlike the Philippines I am unaware of the zoo there.
Common sense is all that is needed.
Osaka would certainly provide a good home for two elephants and be good company for the single animal they already hold. Definitely a good move.

Elephants in Thailand

Probably unique in the worlds newspapers is 'The Bangkok Post'. I say this because scarcely a week passes without a mention of elephants and more usually they get press two or three times.

Thai people like elephants (though Dao is terrified of them) and tourists see them as a 'must see'. In and around Pattaya (my present base) there are at least five, and probably more (I have visited five without actually going to an 'elephant camp'), places exhibiting elephants. Exhibiting or using? Both really.

What to do with all the elephants? Every place I have been they are breeding. Pattaya is only one part of Thailand. Phuket and Chiang Mai both have as many, or more elephants than Pattaya.

Here too we have our unofficial elephants. Dao's bar is visited practically every night by one. Assisted by two or more mahouts people are encouraged to purchase small bags of sugar cane to feed to the animal for luck. On Khung's birthday she crawled underneath the animal three time for extra luck.
Twice the elephant has been ambushed by the police outside our bar. I was surprised at what a turn of speed the animal had as it sped off into the darkness. On one occasion the police arrested all the mahouts. The elephant returned later alone and was having a jolly time rooting through dustbins for something more tasty than sugar cane.

Smaller, very small elephants work the 'box bars' where bigger elephants can not tread. A couple of weeks ago I was knocked arse over tip by an elephant I never saw nor heard coming. Admittedly I was distracted. At the time I was trying to examine a cat I had found. The cat was wearing a coat (peculiar). Whop! Still, no harm done.

How many elephants work the streets of Pattaya is a mystery to me. It is a big city. Maybe a dozen. Where do they go in the day? If the country can hide thousands of singly held crocodiles then a few elephants are not going to present too much of a problem. There is a problem though and this is outlined in yesterdays Bangkok Post:

EDITORIAL Plight of the jumbos
The various projects to help the elephants of Bangkok have finally begun to take shape. Thanks to public donations, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has been able to purchase a 30-year-old, partially blind animal. Instead of begging for food in the dangerous capital city, Pang Bua Kham will get a home at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang. The rescue of this elephant is a heart-warming story, and a project that deserved ........................

See lalest Zoo Vacancies