Thailand opposes RI request

Thailand opposes RI request

BANGKOK (DPA): Thai officials and wildlife protection
activists have strongly opposed an Indonesian request for 12 Thai
elephants and their mahouts to help the country round up their
own wild pachyderms, sources said yesterday.

Officials suspect Indonesia has asked for the Thai elephants
to assist its efforts to turn local pachyderms into tourist
attractions, like elephant rides and shows, which Thailand has
done successfully for decades.

"They will be a big competitor for Thai tourism," said Soraida
Salwada, founder of the Friends of the Asian Elephants
Foundation. "This is our country and we need income badly, so why
should we teach others to be our competitors."

Thailand Wildlife Research Division has reportedly asked the
Indonesian government to clarify its request which appeared to
contain some contradictions.