Siezed animals at risk | Bangkok Post: news

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Seized wildlife trapped in legal limbo

Animals captured in raids on suspected traffickers and private animal parks are considered evidence in trials that may take years to conclude and state agencies have few options but to keep them caged in overburdened facilities until the cases are resolved

Published: 20 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Spectrum

The death of an elephant taken in a raid on a private elephant park in Kanchanaburi province in April last year highlights the strain on state agencies charged with taking custody of seized wildlife. The female elephant and 18 others were taken after park owners failed to provide proper identification documents and turned over to the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang province to await legal proceedings.

BEAR FACTS: An Asian black bear inside an open enclosure at the Bang Lamung breeding centre in Chon Buri province is more fortunate than many seized animals which are caged for long periods.

Authorities say the elephant was suffering from an infection and in very poor health when it reached the centre. The owners of the private park contend that it was fine before the raid and its health deteriorated afterward, possibly as a result of the sudden change in environment.

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Sgtfletch
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Discussion 4 : 20 Jan 2013 at 20.494
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This is typical of many places/countries that have so-called "exotic" wildlife and not very many exotic government officials. If one remembers from the movie "Wall Street" , actor Mike Douglas' wonderful line about the Upper Class Rich people in New York City....and I paraphrase..."they love animals and hate people" In Thailand, it seems it is just the opposite, Thai officials love each other and hate animals. The Thai gov't cannot expect foreign gov'ts to take care of these animals as well as, in the case of the USA, accept thousands of human refugees from Southeast Asia. You can't invite someone to dinner every night of the week, true?
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pete
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Discussion 3 : 20 Jan 2013 at 14.053
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Why is the justice system so slow here?

Because there's no money to be made.
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Birdie
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Discussion 2 : 20 Jan 2013 at 11.102
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Not only the justice system is slow. Thailand is slow in everything because every government agencies or institution is overstaffed and everybody is waiting for everybody and finally nothing is done. This is Thailand.
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tamsin
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Discussion 1 : 20 Jan 2013 at 10.311
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Why is the justice system so slow here? Laziness? Ineptitude?
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