Kenyan government plans to send 300 wild animals from the East African country to a zoo in Thailand has been heavily criticised by animal welfare organisations in the country.
Animal welfare groups have questioned Kenya’s commitment to protecting its wildlife, as some of the animals on the list, such as white rhinos, cheetahs and lions, have been in steady decline in Kenya in recent years.
”These animals don’t do well in zoos. I am questioning the conservationist logic here. I guess the primary motivation in this case is commercial,” said Philip Muruthi, of the African Wildlife Foundation in Kenya.
”We feel strongly that Kenya is on the wrong path and must withdraw from this arrangement as soon as possible, as it is against all ethics of animal welfare,” the regional director of the Born Free Foundation, Winnie Kiiru, told the East African newspaper.
Both Kiiru and Muruthi, naming Thailand as a main conduit for illegal trade in wild animals, questioned how the country can be expected to safeguard the Kenyan animals.
The offer was reportedly made by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki during a visit to Thailand late last year.
According to the newspaper, Kenya would, in return for the 300 animals, receive elephant trainers from Thailand, and the Kenyan tourism sector would also be promoted in Thailand.
A senior warden at the Kenya Wildlife Service was puzzled, saying: ”What would we need elephant trainers for? Wed like to keep our elephants in their natural state.”
Wildlife conservationists in Kenya have said that the planned relocation would be the biggest to date in the country’s history, and have pointed out that a number of the wild animals would probably die during the long transit.
Observers have said they are surprised at Kibaki’s willingness to send the animals.
”The Kenyan government made such a hullabaloo at the Cites conference in Thailand last year about the lions in Kenya being endangered. Yet lions are on the list of animals to be sent to Thailand,” said Muruthi. — Sapa-DPA