Raid on wildlife centre nets 103 animals | Bangkok Post: learning

General news

A raid on a wildlife centre in Phetchaburi's Tha Yang district netted 103 animals allegedly being kept there illegally, a charge strongly denied by the foundation's head.

Please join us on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

An official of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation shoots an anaesthetic dart into an Asiatic black bear in its cage at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand in Phetchaburi’sTha Yang district so that it can be safely moved out. CHAIWAT SATYAEM

Click button to listen to Wildlife raid and rightclick to download

103 animals seized in wildlife centre raid

Chaiwat Satyaem

More than 100 Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation officers yesterday raided the compound of a wildlife foundation in Phetchaburi to seize endangered species being kept there.

The raid was led by Damrong Pidech, the department's director-general, against the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) in Phetchaburi's Tha Yang district.

The officers seized 103 wild animals for which the foundation had allegedly failed to produce licences to prove they were keeping the animals legally.

The department said it had earlier demanded the foundation produce documents proving that 103 out of some 450 animals under the foundation's care were staying there legitimately.

The raid was chaotic as several WFFT volunteers, both Thai and foreigners, tried to disrupt the officers.

The unconscious bear is put into a cage for transport. CHAIWAT SATYAEM

Mr Damrong denied his officers were trying to intimidate the WFFT.

"We are not out to harass them because the foundation has good intentions.

"But we need to enforce Thai laws that have been issued to protect these animals," he said.

"Without licences, wildlife might be bought here from somewhere else," he said.

He added there is no permanent veterinarian working in the foundation's animal nursing quarters.

"The nursing quarters are also illegal," he said.

Mr Damrong said several animals in the nursing quarters look healthy enough to be released into the wild.

"These days, it has basically become a zoo.

"How much in donations has poured into the foundation from all over the world?" Mr Damrong said.

Meanwhile, foundation head Edwin Wiek denied the WFFT had done anything wrong.

He insisted the foundation had all the documents to prove the foundation has legal custody of all the animals, but they were stored in the foundation's computer.

"We have explained to the officers and we asked for more time to print out all the documents. The officers refused to give us more time.

"They have used force to take away animals that they say we do not have legal custody over" Mr Wiek said.

Mr Wiek said the foundation had informed the department whenever it accepted any wild animals into its care, and department officers had never come to check on the animals in the past.

wildlife – animals, birds, insects, etc. that are wild and live in a natural environment สัตว์ป่า
conservation – the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity การอนุรักษ์ธรรมชาติ, การป้องกันความสูญเสีย, การสงวนไว้
anaesthetic – a substance that makes you unable to feel pain or makes you fall alseep ยาชา,ยาสลบ
dart – a small pointed object, sometimes with feathers to help it fly, that is shot as a weapon or thrown in the game of darts ลูกดอก
foundation – an organisation that provides money for things such as medical research or for a charity มูลนิธิ
seize – to take something using official power ยึด
raid – using force to enter a place suddenly in order to arrest people or search for something such as illegal weapons or drugs or, in this case, illegally kept animals การเข้าตรวจค้น
compound – an area enclosed by a fence or wall in which people work or live บริเวณ
endangered species – a type of animal or plant that may soon become extinct (=disappear from the world) สัตว์ป่าหรือสิ่งมีชีวิตที่ใกล้จะสูญพันธุ์
allegedly – claimed to have done something wrong, but not yet proven ที่กล่าวหา
licence – an official document that gives someone permission to do or use something ใบอนุญาต
legal – allowed by the law ถูกต้องตามกฎหมาย
document – a paper or set of papers with written or printed information, especially of an official type  เอกสาร
prove – to use facts, evidence, etc. to show that something is true พิสูจน์
legitimate – allowed by the law, or correct according to the law ชอบด้วยกฎหมาย
chaotic – happening in a confused way and without any order or organisation ยุ่งเหยิง วุ่นวาย
volunteer – someone who is not paid for the work that they do อาสาสมัคร
disrupt – to prevent something from continuing as usual or as expected ทำให้ยุ่งเหยิง, ทำให้ยุ่งยาก
unconscious – in a sleeplike condition, usually from an illness or injury  หมดสติ
deny – to say that you did not do something that someone has accused you of doing ปฏิเสธ
intimidate – to attempt to frighten someone in order to get them to do something ทำให้กลัว, ข่มขู่
harass – to keep attacking or annoying someone รบกวน, ทำให้ลำบากใจ
intention – a plan in your mind to do something ความตั้งใจ เจตนา
enforce – to make sure laws are obeyed บังคับให้ใช้,  บังคับให้ทำ, ใช้กำลังบังคับให้ปฏิบัติตาม
issue – to officially give out  ออก
permanent – happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future ถาวร  
veterinarian – a person with a medical degree trained to take care of the health of animals สัตวแพทย์
nursing – the job or skill of caring for people/animals who are sick or injured การพยาบาล
quarters – rooms that are provided ที่พักอาศัย
illegal – against the law ผิดกฎหมาย, นอกกฎหมาย
release – to allow to go free ปล่อย
basically – in the most important ways, without considering things that are less important โดยแท้จริง, โดยทั่วๆ ไป
donation – money or goods that you give to an organisation, especially one that helps people เงินหรือสิ่งของบริจาค
pour into – to come in large amounts ไหลเข้า
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true, even when other people will not believe you ยืนกราน
custody –  the legal right to look after a child/animal, etc. สิทธิในการดูแล
refuse – to say you will not do something that someone has asked you to do ปฏิเสธ

Tell us what you think about this article

Like dislike 1 people liked / 1 people disliked it

Share this article

0

0

• More +

• Republishing permission
• Print this

Bangkok Post online classifieds

Try buying & selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local & expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.