I visited the "famous" tiger temple in Kanchanaburi last week. I was appaled how these animals were kept in dark small cages and people were tesing the tigers! How is it possible that people tell us on Animalplanet that the temple is doing good work conserving tigers while all they do is charge a high entry fee for the cruel keeping of animals. The placxe should be closed down and the animals should go to a rescue center!
--Leonie Hall from the UK

HELPING ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE is a crime in Thailand... Just heard that Edwin has been given 8 months suspended jail and a fine of 500 dollars for helping Thailand's wildlife! What a shame, while Bangkok is the center of the illegal wildlife trade and no-one gets ever busted they now go after those who help the animals that become victims of this trade. Shame on the Thai government! Edwin we will continue to support you and the staff at WFFT!!! Who is the man at the DNP who is after you and why is he so eager to get you?

--Marianne Schuiten - NL

Dear Madam, Sir,
We like to inform you about different places in Thailand where tourists have met people who tried to make business by letting take pictures of their pets in an atrocious way. The way, they were accommodated and the way the animals had to do their shows.
One Dutch family stayed in CHAWENG on the island KOH SAMUI.Day and night there was a baby-monkey, which was shown by a man. The monkey cried all the time. During a monkey-show people had to watch a MACAQUE (Pig-tailed monkey)climbing into a tree, fetching coconuts and throwing them down again, day in, day out. Not forgetting having his picture taken. After that excursion they went to a camp for ELEPHANTS. He writes: It was horrible. The elephants were standing in an abys with some
grass and iron pipes on which they could get hurted. When an old elephant was looking for water, he could not find any and started to ruin the waterpipes. He got punished very severely. There was also a GIBBON, (LAR) being very unhappy. The Dutch tourist went to the GOLDEN TRAENGEL by boat on the MEKONG and went ashore near LAOS. A small bear chained with a heavy chain + a small iron cage for two BABOONS made him feel awful.
Another Dutch tourist went for holidays to NONG NOOCH nearby PATTAYA in THailand. It should have been a tropical garden, but there was also a small zoo where the animals are kept in miserable circumstances.Too small cages, no or very little water and food. The OSTRICHES had been plucking each other until they started bleeding. There were three baby ORAN UTANGS completely dressed like human beings, who had to pose in front of the camera's. Also at night in WALKING STREET and in the 1ST BEACH ROAD in PATTAYA were during the night people with KAPUCHIN-MONKEYS.
We know about your problems and troubles, but it would have been not fair to these animals not to let you know about their miserable life and ask for help, especially you, who have shown so much courage and pity in situations likewise.
If there is a possibility for you to help this people to change the lives of their pets by -for instance- telling them that wild animals are not pets and that they need company of their own species and need fresh food and water which will keep them healthy. Perhaps there will be one person of the younger generation, who will be more sensible and will help changing the old way of thinking about pets.
With the kindest regards,
Jennie
--Jenny

We have travelled throughout Thailand and are very concerned about the wild animals we have seen being kept as pets and for the amusement of tourists. The two species which are commonly domesticated and treated most inappropriately are gibbons and elephants, though of course many more species are also unfortunately removed from their natural habitats.

We were very disappointed to see young gibbons being carried around the streets of Chaweng, in Koh Samui, for photo opportunities and, each time we were approached by the young guys with the gibbons, we told them very firmly that "gibbons belong in the forest and not on the streets". Perhaps if enough tourists tell them this, there will eventually be no reason for people to keep gibbons as pets.

Two gibbons that we are very concerned about are being kept in a very small cage in the shopping precinct at Na Muang Two Waterfall on Koh Samui. We saw them one evening around sunset when all of the other tourists and shop keepers had left for the day. They seemed very miserable sitting in their small enclosure clutching a piece of hessian cloth for comfort. They appeared to be very young and obviously should be living with their mothers in the wild instead of being in a cage.

The elephants being kept inappropriately are unfortunately too numerous to list here. It would be good if the details of elephant sanctuaries, that are ethically sound and which do great work caring for these magnificent animals, could be provided in places where tourists can easily access the information.
--Paul - Australia

PLEASE SEND US PICTURES if you have any of the aniamls being exploited in tourist areas. We are soon to start a campaign against the use of wildlife in tourism and we need your hep in providing pictures! Please send them to Edwin Wiek edwin.wiek@wfft.org
--Edwin Wiek
<mailto:edwin.wiek@wfft.org>

i did ride an elephant on pha ngan island , close to samui , maybe i shouldnt have , it was first time in my life . no photos

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I did send the following leter to the Thai embassy in Denmark, but no reply yet:

We just spent a three-week holiday on the beautiful palm island of Koh Samui, and the general impression of the holiday was that of a wonderful time in Thailand. We enjoyed the friendliness of the Thais, the lovely climate, the beautiful beaches, and the wonderful food.

But there was a snake in the grass. We saw far too many monkeys and elephants (as well as other animals) living under completely unacceptable conditions. In the “nature parks”, monkeys were kept on one-metre long lines without any opportunity to climb or play with each other. The fingers of some of the monkeys were crushed – the reason why, we could only guess. As for the baby elephants, they, too, were kept in very short lines and stood waving their trunks from side to side in frustration.

Worst, however, was the situation for the monkeys in the streets. This brought back memories from Spain in the 80s. The monkeys were - together with eagles, snakes and iguanas - offered to tourists for photography against payment.

The animals were scared or passive, and characteristic of all were their “dull eyes”.

Over the years, we have followed Monkey World’s work for monkeys in particular, and are astonished that so many monkeys are still suffering in Thailand.

We would therefore like the embassy to explain whether the Thai authorities approve of such cruelty to animals or whether steps are taken to prevent this unacceptable behaviour.

We would also like to know whether there is any Thai legislation in relation to the protection of animals, and if there is, why such legislation is not enforced.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,


Lone from Denmark

--Lone

I recently visisted koh samui, I am guilty of holding the monkey for picture purposes. I then went to bangkok and there was an elephant on the street... if we all say no to taking pictures perhaps these animals will be put back to where they belong. But then again alot of ppl pay for these pictures and don't care!!

I forgot to mention when I was holding the monkey the owner or whoever he was let me try and get people to take pictures to make him some money, surprisingly 95 percent of ppl i asked said it was cruel.

pLEASE CHECK THE WEB SITE news SECTION FOR NEWS ON THE RAID IN sAMUI IN sEPTEMBER 2007....
--Edwin Wiek - Thailand

Hi everyone,

Carrie and myself (Paul) were volunteers, about 2 days ago (13/10/07) - we ventured into Nana Plaza on tuk tuk and literally, within 10 seconds saw a 4-5 year old elepahnt being ridden by drunken westerners - it was a harsh reminder, after our peace and loving interaction with the 5 rescued elephant girls/ladies at the refuge, just how insidious and pathetic this trade is.

we will have video soon of this to share with all.

we also saw another elephant near this area being ridden next to 5 lanes of roaring bangkok traffic.

lets all work together and help spread the word of this trade.

peace and love,

Paul Hobson, Carrie Barnes-Hobson
--Pai and Carrie
<mailto:paulhob@optusnet.com.au>

Hi,

My issue is with shopping centres which have wildlife on display. For example, The Mall Bangkhae has Cockatoos and other once very beautiful birds (now feathers are falling out) which belong in the wild on display in the shopping centre. They are situated on an island in the middle of the shopping centre where it is air conditioned all day and no natural sunlight or fresh air ever reaches it. Not only that they have massive fish living in a pond near the food court. Although the pond is very deep and the fish seem healthy, it doesn't seem right that fish which look like they belong in the depths of the Maekong river are swimming around in circles in an artificial shopping centre pond.

Although I am sure that The Mall Bangkhae is not the only shopping centre with wildlife on display and may even look after them better than other places.

Please advise how we can help stop this continuing.

Advise would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Tanya
--Tanya - Thailand
<mailto:tanya_angspatt@yahoo.com>

the monkey theater in koh samui is appauling there are monkeys in desperate need of medical attention here or i fear they may suffer a horrible death help where do we get help ?
--horrified in koh samui
<mailto:bianca.luke@hotmail.com>

I recently visited Phuket and was appalled by the animal cruelty I saw there,including a monkey and lizard used to take photos with tourists on Thaweewong Road. I went on a tour that took us to Siam Safari where a large metal hook is used to scratch the elephant's ears and head to make it go where the guide sitting on its neck wants. The worst part of this place was the monkey show, where monkeys are kept in a dark cage backstage (one had been captive for 12 years) and trained to perform for tourists. The monkeys were obviously afraid of their 'trainer' and one could be heard screaming backstage when it had not performed the trick asked of it. Watching this made me feel sick to my stomach. I then went to Bangkok and while sitting eating dinner at the inn on Soi 23 I saw an elephant being led through the street full of drunk men at girly bars with neon lights where they could feed it for a price.
--Stephanie

The photo trade continues at Pattaya. On 8/3/08 I saw 3 Lorises and a baby macaque being offered to tourists for photos. It was even more disappointing to see 2 European ladies paying to have their photo taken with a Loris which was in obvious distress.