Wildlife exposed and trafficked in Thailand - and authorities don't care

You would think that Rihannas instagram picture with a gibbon would have emberrased Thai authorities enough to start a crackdown on wildlife trafficking and exploiting to tourists. Or that the uproar had an impact on tourists. But nothing actually happened. Two people were arrested on Phuket, but I don't even know if they ended up in jail, what would be unlikely.

Yesterday we walked down the main street in Chaweng on Kho Samui Island. In plain sight two thugs with gibbons, hanging them on tourists shoulders and making money from taking an instant photograph. When I took my first picture of them, they looked quite uncomfortable, but went on with the business.

It is very sad to see that tourists still go for it. I talked to one guy that he shouldn't do that and that it is illegal, and he responded "so are many things in Thailand". Even our friends were not much interested in the incident.

We later had a beer at Bondi Grill, and the guys showed up, standing in front of the restaurant and looking for business. I asked the waitress what can be done, but she said she can't do anything because it is outside. I told her it is illegal to do that under Thai law and if she please can call the police. She said "They will run away when they see police" and denied to call. 

So my wife called the police, and the officer sounded quite excited, repeated location and said they would send officers. What actually came some minutes later were two guys on a motobike, stopping in front of the gibbon mafia, speaking shortly and drove away. Suddenly the guys with the primates went into a side street. What was also interesting was that they stood together with some promoters for a Muay Thai boxinf event, and those promoters were nervously looking around. It seemed they worked together.

Police of course never showed up, the gang disappeared in a side street, when we left the restaurant. It shows that Thai authorities have zero interest in fighting wildlife trafficiing and exploitation. The only thing these officers want is bribes. And a coup, or any military rule, will not change anything - it may even make things worst, since there is even less enforcement of any law with the power struggle in the capital still going on.

More: Gibbon Rescue Center on Phuket

Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park: relax and enjoy the tranquility

We are not yet finished with exploring parks and gardens in Bangkok. Today we went to another jewel of natural habitat: The Sri Kakhon Khuen Khan park. The current King himself gave the park the garden. Although it looks on the map bigger at it actually is, the park is worth a stop. If you are on a organised bike tour you most probably make a visit here anyway, if not, mark it as a way point.

Located on the northern end of the small peninsula the Chao Phraya river forms here, it is open daily from 6am to 8pm and you don't need to buy a ticket. It is also a botanical garden, so expect a lot of signs explaining the plants you see. You can walk around or take a bike (a bike rental is right next to the entrance).

Enjoy the shadows of the huge trees, watch the lizards crawling trough the gras (they are harmless, just keep some distance) or climb up the birdwatching tower (better bring binoculars with you). Have a seat in the wooden pavilions and listen to the sound of nature just a few kilometers from the buzzing city. 

We didn't see a restaurants there, but you are allowed to bring your own food and drinks and have a picnic. Just clean the place afterwards. Toilets are available on the right when you enter the park.


Once you finished you can also visit the nearby Siamese Fighting Fish Gallery, unfortunately it's open only on weekends.

Seacon Pet Planet: The Safari or how wild animals are exploited in shopping malls

When I read an announcement about a Safari World at Seacon yesterday in the Bangkok Post, I was curious, so I just went there for the opening. The promotion area in the first floor was turned into a safari camp style arena, with a lot of huts and cages. First impression was actually quite good, well designed with explanations on every cage. But that was pretty much it.

First of all this is yet another event that makes money from the pet shops around selling mainly puppies, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs and pet supplies. So the whole event is business driven - of course, it is a shopping mall.

While I don't have much of a problem to see a snake in a cage or a turtle, I do see problems seeing a lion cub in a cage, next to a leopard cub. They are for public display, and of course fighting each other through the cages grid. I took picture when they had to use Betadin on the paw of the small leopard.

They also show a leopard baby, and for 100 baht you can hold it in your hand and give him milk.

Also on display are flamingos, deers, some birds and white-faced capuchin as far as I know. In total 35 species as the Bangkok Post mentioned.

So, what is wrong with it?

First of all, I don't think that a shopping mall is a natural habitat for lions and leopards. Not even for flamingos and deers. They were already stressed before the opening, and it went worst after the first hundreds of children and parents came in, passing at around a meter distance, seperated just by the small cage bars. For the lion and the leopard there was no place to hide and rest at all.

Second, a cub is not a toy and it's not a pet. It is a wild animal and needs protection, not exploitation. It is harming those animals to be used as a photo motive.

Also, the whole thing sends a totally wrong message to young (and old people). Animals are displayed as "cute" and cute sells pretty well these days in Thailand. In particular kids will not understand that this is a protected species. They will see it as a pet. No wonder so many wild animals are kept in private zoos and houses in Thailand. And from a generation that was educated this way, we can't expect much efforts in wild life protection or even understanding of it.



So, who brought the animals in? It is the Safari Park Open Zoo and Camp Conservation Centre in Kanchanaburi Of course, everyone can use the term "conservation" in Thailand. Reality is that this is a business that exploits animals. They advertise with "the only place in the world where you can touch and take a photo with giraffes" (They haven't been much outside Thailand, I guess), and if you read comments on Trip Advisor, it gest even worst. Right-Tourism mentioned: "Part of this advertisement was a leopard, it appeared to be drugged, it was extremely docile for an animal of this size – having seen big cats in safari parks in other countries, it was on a chain, there was no water available to the animal."

I wrote an email to Seacon Square expressing my disgust about the show, but honestly I don't expect any answer.