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Activists prevent transfer of Asian elephants to Australia

The transfer of eight Asian elephants to Australian zoos was in limbo yesterday after animal rights activists prevented trucks from carrying the animals to Bangkok's airport, arguing that they would suffer abroad.

At least two rights activists blocked the trucks late on Monday, stopping them from leaving a quarantine station in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi. The standoff continued yesterday, with about 15 villagers including children as young as five years mingling outside the station and the elephants still in cages on the trucks.

A sign hanging outside the station read "Stop Exploiting Thai Elephants."

"We want to teach our children that our natural resources are important and we have to take care of them," said Rajani Dhongchai, a school principal at the protest.

"Elephants are part of the forest's life. If anything is missing from this circle, the forest will not be rich."

Soraida Salwala, founder of the Thai group Friends of the Asian Elephant, said the protesters were concerned about the elephants' welfare. They claim the animals -- who will be part of a captive breeding program in Australia -- will suffer in the confines of the zoos and that the program won't help conserve the species.

Soraida said she would withdraw if the elephants were put back in their stables and the Thai government discussed the issue with the activists.

"I don't want to see elephants in distress," she said. "They shouldn't have done this in the first place."

The authorities had planned to fly the elephants to a temporary home in Australia's Cocos islands where they were to be quarantined for three months.

Australian officials said they were "perplexed" by the actions of the protesters since the two governments had signed agreements in 2004 clearing the way for the transfer.

"I am perplexed and surprised that this would happen, given that we had complete agreement between our governments and have been so fully committed to our long-term relationship to contribute to vital wildlife conservation projects in Thailand," Guy Cooper, head of the Consortium of Australasian Zoos, said in a statement.

"We have at all times acted with deference and respect for Thai laws, culture and heritage," he continued. "We have been most conscientious in ensuring that the entire project has met with all of the requirements of Thai and international authorities."

Lisa Keen, a communications manager for Sydney's Taronga Zoo, which was preparing to receive some of the elephants from Thailand, said officials "are a bit at a loss how to resolve this."
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