Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON362
2009-06-16 01:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA TIMBER INDUSTRY THREATENS ELEPHANT
how-toVZCZCXRO9471 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0362/01 1670144 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 160144Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9110 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 2954 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2315 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2055 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 5237 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2160 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5530 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9126 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0791 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6703 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1827 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2205 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0675 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2506 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4513 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000362
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, OES
BANGKOK FOR REO OFFICE
PACOM FOR FPA
TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: ECON SENV PREL PGOV ETRD BM
SUBJECT: BURMA TIMBER INDUSTRY THREATENS ELEPHANT
POPULATION
REF: RANGOON 357
RANGOON 00000362 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4
(b and d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000362
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, OES
BANGKOK FOR REO OFFICE
PACOM FOR FPA
TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: ECON SENV PREL PGOV ETRD BM
SUBJECT: BURMA TIMBER INDUSTRY THREATENS ELEPHANT
POPULATION
REF: RANGOON 357
RANGOON 00000362 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4
(b and d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Burma's wild elephant population continues to
dwindle. Environmentalists estimate fewer than 4,000 roam
wild, compared to 5,500 in 1996. Although elephants are
revered by the Burmese people, wild populations are
threatened by habitat destruction, declining breeding rates,
and poaching. Elephants are utilized by the timber industry,
and environmentalists complain that abuse and overwork causes
a high number of animal deaths. In order to meet the
regime's increasing demand for foreign currency from timber
sales, state-owned Myanmar Timber Enterprise and private
companies continue to capture and use wild elephants for
felling, further threatening the limited population. End
Summary.
Burma's Wild Elephants
--------------
2. (SBU) Environmentalists estimate between 25,000-35,000
wild Asian elephants live in 13 countries. India has an
estimated 20,000 elephants; Burma has the second largest
population, with approximately 4,000 wild elephants,
according to U Uga, Director of Burmese NGO Biodiversity and
Nature Conservation Association (BANCA). Although these
figures indicate a vibrant population, the number of wild
elephants in Burma has decreased 27 percent since 1996, when
Ministry of Forestry surveys showed more than 5,500 lived in
Burma.
3. (SBU) U Uga explained there are numerous threats to
Burma's wild elephant population. Timber is one of Burma's
top exports, and the rate of deforestation has increased
substantially during the past 20 years. The felling of trees
destroys wild elephant habitats, as well as sources of food,
he noted. Additionally, Burma's elephant population is
becoming increasingly fragmented due to both loss of habitat
and increasing capture of wild elephants for use in the
timber industry. Elephants living in small groups have a
lower survival rate, as the likelihood of breeding declines,
U Uga explained. Finally, larger male elephants are under
threat of poaching for their ivory tusks. While he could not
provide any specific figures on animal poaching, U Uga stated
that large pieces of ivory are often shipped to China and
Thailand through illegal border trade and can be found in the
markets in the Burmese city of Muse (along the China border).
Use in Timber Industry
--------------
4. (C) U Uga noted that as the wild elephant population
dwindles, the number of elephants living in captivity is
increasing, due to both the capture and domestication of wild
elephants and births in captivity. According to BANCA data,
there are more than 4,500 elephants in captivity in Burma, up
RANGOON 00000362 002.2 OF 002
from 2,000 in 2000. The majority of these elephants are used
by Burma's timber industry to move felled logs, although
approximately 30 elephants live in zoos in Rangoon and Nay
Pyi Taw. According to U Khin Zaw, former Deputy General
Manager of Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE),the state-owned
company responsible for timber extraction, MTE owns
approximately 2,500 elephants, the majority of which were
captured in the wild. He explained that in order to meet the
regime's increasing demand for hard currency from the sale of
timber, MTE must capture and use additional wild elephants to
fell more trees.
5. (C) U Khin Zaw noted that the 2,000 captive elephants
not possessed by MTE are privately-owned and are often rented
to MTE and private companies for use in the timber industry.
U Uga confirmed that regime crony Tay Za, who owns more than
500 elephants, leases them to crony companies including Dagon
Timber and IGE Ltd. Co, as well as Regional Commanders in
Mandalay and Myitkyina (Reftel) during the timber harvest.
No Animal Welfare Protections
--------------
6. (C) U Uga explained that the use of elephants to move
felled trees is more environmentally friendly than using
heavy machinery, but he has observed that MTE, private
companies, and the military overwork the animals. He
complained that animal mistreatment and overuse have led to
an increasing number of elephant deaths. Additionally, U Uga
estimates that an average of 10 elephants die each year
during capture, further depleting the wild elephant
population.
7. (C) Burmese law prohibits the capture of elephants
except for research purposes; however, U Khin Zaw says the
regime turns a blind eye with regard to elephants and the
timber trade. U Uga lamented that the Ministry of Forestry
does not limit how many elephants are captured annually. He
surmised that, without sustainable practices to protect the
existing population, the number of wild elephants will
continue to decrease.
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, OES
BANGKOK FOR REO OFFICE
PACOM FOR FPA
TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: ECON SENV PREL PGOV ETRD BM
SUBJECT: BURMA TIMBER INDUSTRY THREATENS ELEPHANT
POPULATION
REF: RANGOON 357
RANGOON 00000362 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4
(b and d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Burma's wild elephant population continues to
dwindle. Environmentalists estimate fewer than 4,000 roam
wild, compared to 5,500 in 1996. Although elephants are
revered by the Burmese people, wild populations are
threatened by habitat destruction, declining breeding rates,
and poaching. Elephants are utilized by the timber industry,
and environmentalists complain that abuse and overwork causes
a high number of animal deaths. In order to meet the
regime's increasing demand for foreign currency from timber
sales, state-owned Myanmar Timber Enterprise and private
companies continue to capture and use wild elephants for
felling, further threatening the limited population. End
Summary.
Burma's Wild Elephants
--------------
2. (SBU) Environmentalists estimate between 25,000-35,000
wild Asian elephants live in 13 countries. India has an
estimated 20,000 elephants; Burma has the second largest
population, with approximately 4,000 wild elephants,
according to U Uga, Director of Burmese NGO Biodiversity and
Nature Conservation Association (BANCA). Although these
figures indicate a vibrant population, the number of wild
elephants in Burma has decreased 27 percent since 1996, when
Ministry of Forestry surveys showed more than 5,500 lived in
Burma.
3. (SBU) U Uga explained there are numerous threats to
Burma's wild elephant population. Timber is one of Burma's
top exports, and the rate of deforestation has increased
substantially during the past 20 years. The felling of trees
destroys wild elephant habitats, as well as sources of food,
he noted. Additionally, Burma's elephant population is
becoming increasingly fragmented due to both loss of habitat
and increasing capture of wild elephants for use in the
timber industry. Elephants living in small groups have a
lower survival rate, as the likelihood of breeding declines,
U Uga explained. Finally, larger male elephants are under
threat of poaching for their ivory tusks. While he could not
provide any specific figures on animal poaching, U Uga stated
that large pieces of ivory are often shipped to China and
Thailand through illegal border trade and can be found in the
markets in the Burmese city of Muse (along the China border).
Use in Timber Industry
--------------
4. (C) U Uga noted that as the wild elephant population
dwindles, the number of elephants living in captivity is
increasing, due to both the capture and domestication of wild
elephants and births in captivity. According to BANCA data,
there are more than 4,500 elephants in captivity in Burma, up
RANGOON 00000362 002.2 OF 002
from 2,000 in 2000. The majority of these elephants are used
by Burma's timber industry to move felled logs, although
approximately 30 elephants live in zoos in Rangoon and Nay
Pyi Taw. According to U Khin Zaw, former Deputy General
Manager of Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE),the state-owned
company responsible for timber extraction, MTE owns
approximately 2,500 elephants, the majority of which were
captured in the wild. He explained that in order to meet the
regime's increasing demand for hard currency from the sale of
timber, MTE must capture and use additional wild elephants to
fell more trees.
5. (C) U Khin Zaw noted that the 2,000 captive elephants
not possessed by MTE are privately-owned and are often rented
to MTE and private companies for use in the timber industry.
U Uga confirmed that regime crony Tay Za, who owns more than
500 elephants, leases them to crony companies including Dagon
Timber and IGE Ltd. Co, as well as Regional Commanders in
Mandalay and Myitkyina (Reftel) during the timber harvest.
No Animal Welfare Protections
--------------
6. (C) U Uga explained that the use of elephants to move
felled trees is more environmentally friendly than using
heavy machinery, but he has observed that MTE, private
companies, and the military overwork the animals. He
complained that animal mistreatment and overuse have led to
an increasing number of elephant deaths. Additionally, U Uga
estimates that an average of 10 elephants die each year
during capture, further depleting the wild elephant
population.
7. (C) Burmese law prohibits the capture of elephants
except for research purposes; however, U Khin Zaw says the
regime turns a blind eye with regard to elephants and the
timber trade. U Uga lamented that the Ministry of Forestry
does not limit how many elephants are captured annually. He
surmised that, without sustainable practices to protect the
existing population, the number of wild elephants will
continue to decrease.
DINGER