Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BANGKOK7581
2005-12-13 00:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

HALF-BAKED IDEA FOR ZOO INCREASES DOUBT ABOUT THAI

Tags:  SENV ECON PGOV PREL TH 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

130025Z Dec 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 007581 

SIPDIS

UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, EB, AND OES
USDOC WASHDC FOR 4430/EAP/MAC/OKSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON PGOV PREL TH
SUBJECT: HALF-BAKED IDEA FOR ZOO INCREASES DOUBT ABOUT THAI
COMMITMENT TO WILDLIFE

REF: A. CHIANG MAI 233 B. BANGKOK 3798

This cable coordinated with Consulate General Chiang Mai.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 007581

SIPDIS

UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, EB, AND OES
USDOC WASHDC FOR 4430/EAP/MAC/OKSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON PGOV PREL TH
SUBJECT: HALF-BAKED IDEA FOR ZOO INCREASES DOUBT ABOUT THAI
COMMITMENT TO WILDLIFE

REF: A. CHIANG MAI 233 B. BANGKOK 3798

This cable coordinated with Consulate General Chiang Mai.


1. (U) Summary: Chiang Mai's Night Safari Park, although
set to open officially on January 1, opened privately on
November 16 in a ceremony presided over by Thailand's Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Controversial since its
inception, for reasons including alleged substandard
treatment of animals, the Night Safari ignited even more
protest from animal groups when the Night Safari's director
suggested serving dishes of exotic animals in one of the
zoo's restaurants. The suggestion was particularly
startling as Thailand is bidding to be a leader in regional
wildlife conservation, and hosted the launch of the ASEAN
Wildlife Enforcement Network on December 1, which aims to
reduce illegal wildlife trafficking. Following vocal public
protests, the director withdrew the suggestion in the same
week, but the episode demonstrates a deep lack of
understanding on the part of Thai government officials
toward wildlife conservation. End Summary.

--------------
A RECIPE FOR DISASTER
--------------


2. (U) From its inception, the Chiang Mai Night Safari Park,
part of a development plan for Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's home province, drew opposition for its
location, importation of animals, water consumption, and the
perception that it is copying Singapore's Night Safari (see
Ref A). The long-delayed unveiling of Chiang Mai's Night
Safari Park finally came in a private ceremony presided over
by Thaksin on November 16, to which 200 Thai businessmen
were invited and offered the opportunity to provide funding
for the zoo.

--------------
SPECIES NOT ENDANGERED, BUT MEDIUM-RARE
--------------


3. (U) In the wake of a controversial deal with Kenya to
export 175 animals to Thailand (see paragraph 5),the event
brought even more news that was hard for animal wildlife
groups to swallow: Plodprasop Suraswadi, the Director of the
Night Safari and Assistant to the Minister of Natural

Resources and Environment, suggested that the park's
restaurant should offer dishes of exotic animals, including
imported zebra, lion, and crocodile. Plodprasop added that
a set meal, prepared by prominent chefs, would cost 4,500
baht (about US$112). [Note: Plodprasop was under
investigation earlier this year for exporting 100 tigers to
China illegally, while serving as Permanent Secretary to the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. He was
transferred to an inactive post during the investigation.
Eventually cleared of charges, he has returned to
government.]

--------------
PUBLIC COULDN'T STOMACH THE IDEA
--------------


4. (U) Plodprasop's insistence that the types of meat
offered were not from endangered species and would be
legally obtained did little to pacify animal lovers.
Protesters gathered at the Night Safari entrance on November
21, led by Lanna Dog Rescue, Northern Wildlife Conservation
Foundation, and the Thai Animal Guardian Association.
During meetings with Lanna Dog Rescue, monks from Chiang
Mai's Wat Pa Daeng temple stated that serving wildlife is
against the teachings of Buddhism. In addition, Thai
elephant conservationist, Sangduen Chailert, selected by
TIME Magazine as an Asian Heroine, said she was disappointed
in the idea, which she believes was not carefully thought
over and has given Thailand a bad image around the world.
Following public outcry, Plodprasop took the idea off the
table. He retracted his suggestion at a November 21 press
conference, saying that such cuisine would confuse visitors
and go against the park's theme of education and animal
conservation. (Locally raised crocodile and ostrich meat,
however, will still be offered.)

--------------
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE
--------------


5. (U) Thai and international wildlife groups have long
vocalized their distaste for the zoo's importation of
animals and its plans to care for them, including
allegations that cages are too small and that sunlight and
roaming needs are inadequate. Earlier discussions included
rare species of white rhino, leopards and spotted hyenas,
all protected under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES),but were modified after public
protest. According to a wildlife NGO in Thailand, mortality
rates for transporting Kenya's animals over such a long
distance could range from 10-40 percent. Another Thai
wildlife NGO reported that the zoo covets Australian koala
bears as well. However, not only are koala bears pricy, but
they come with strict living standards that the Night Safari
has not met. Kenya requires much less stringent standards
for animal exports, said the NGO. In the meantime, Thailand
plans to export 8 elephants to Australia at the end of this
month.

--------------
A SEAT AT THE TABLE?
--------------


6. (U) Kenya's motivation for offering the animals as a gift
to Thailand is uncertain, but various accounts suggest that
the animals are being used as a pawn in state transactions.
Officials state that the animals will bring increased
tourism for both countries; perhaps not coincidentally, Thai
Airways is set to begin a direct flight from Bangkok to
Nairobi. Deutsche Presse-Agentur and other news sources
focused on a statement made by Kenya's President Mwai
Kibaki, during the Thai delegation's visit to sign the MOU,
in which he offered Kenya's gratitude if Thailand were to
support Kenya's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.
An official at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted
speculation that the animals were a quid pro quo for
Thailand's support of Kenya's Security Council bid, telling
EconOff that the animals were "just a gift," and that, in
return, Thailand plans to offer Kenya technical assistance
such as elephant training. EconOff at US Embassy Nairobi
echoed US Consulate Chiang Mai's sentiments that the deal
lacked transparency, and suggested that public opposition
might eventually stop the deal entirely.

--------------
A BUFFET OF DOUBTFUL EPISODES
--------------


7. (U) The exotic menu suggestion only highlights a deeper
struggle about wildlife issues in Thailand, which has a long
tradition as both a range state and large market for exotic
wildlife. Besides the controversial issues surrounding the
Night Safari and Plodprasop's export of tigers to China,
other episodes also cast doubt on Thailand's commitment to
wild animal conservation. Thailand maintains a chain of
"tiger farms," perhaps in hopes of an eventual lifting of
CITES restrictions on trade in farmed tigers and tiger
parts. There has been no forward movement in the pending
legal case against Thailand's premier zoo, Safari World, for
its alleged illegal importation of orangutans (Ref B). And
although wildlife poachers are frequently arrested and Thai
laws allow judges to sentence poachers up to five years in
prison, no one has ever gone to prison in Thailand for
wildlife smuggling, and fines are insignificant when
compared to the value of smuggled animals and animal parts.


8. (U) Comment. Although Plodprasop's withdrawal of the
exotic animal menu has taken the issue off the front burner,
his having made the proposal in the first place increases
doubts about the attitudes of Thai officials when it comes
to wildlife conservation. The episode was particularly ill-
timed, occurring just two weeks before the Thai-hosted
launch of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network on December
1, which aims to increase international cooperation against
illegal wildlife trafficking. On the positive side, the
outcry within Thailand against the proposal is evidence that
environmental civic groups and the general public are paying
attention and ready to call government officials to task in
egregious cases such as this. End comment.