Thailand looks askance at Indonesia elephant request<\/p>\n
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP): Thailand, buffeted by political and
\neconomic crises, has a new worry: someone is trying to steal its
\nelephant-training know-how.<\/p>\n
The someone is Indonesia, and the motive is to build up an
\necho-tourism industry around the mighty beasts, according to
\nofficials and animal experts quoted in Friday's edition of the
\nBangkok Post.<\/p>\n
The report said tourism and forestry officials, as well as the
\nprivate Friends of the Asian Elephant foundation, are suspicious
\nof a request from Indonesia to borrow a dozen trained elephants
\nto help in rounding up their own wild jumbos.<\/p>\n
More than a decade and a half ago, Thailand lent Indonesia
\nfour trained elephants to help "civilize" rampaging jumbos that
\nterrorize communities on the island of Sumatra, but they were
\nnever returned, the report said.<\/p>\n
Thai elephants have been called the best trained in the world,
\nand they show off their skills annually to visitors from around
\nthe world at a well-attended elephant roundup in the northeast.
\nNow there are fears Indonesia is trying to grab this specialized
\ntourist market.<\/p>\n
Thai forestry department, suspicious about the matter, had
\nrefused a number of requests for the elephants, but influential
\npeople now have revived the issue, said Soraida Salwala, founder
\nof the elephant foundation.<\/p>\n
The department's wildlife research division director, Chawan
\nTunhikorn, was quoted as saying he did not oppose the request,
\nbut needed a clearer statement of purpose from the Indonesians.<\/p>\n
He suggested it was strange that Indonesia would request
\nyounger elephants rather than older ones with more experience,
\nand asked for fewer mahouts - elephant trainers - than would seem
\nnecessary.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thailand-looks-askance-at-indonesia-elephant-request-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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