Areas of Thailand totalling nearly 800 square kilometres along the
Burmese border are scattered with landmines, says the Thailand Mines Action
Centre. That’s 1% of the realm, says another source. That’s a "deadly
inheritance," writes one of our readers.
So that’s why, in the build up to National Elephant Day on March 13th,
we focus on the tragedy as well as the joys of these unique, friendly animals
which are happiest living in family groups; caring for their young, ill
and old; using their enormous strength to serve man and yet daily suffering
man’s abuse.
Of course the annual landmine toll of human life - usually border police
and farmers - figures higher up the pecking order, but animal activists
point out that captive animals do unthinkingly trust we humans to take
care of them. Where is the morality in knowingly risking an elephant’s
safety to earn big bucks? Should tragic Motala’s owner have been jailed
for illegally taking her through the minefield belt into Burma (p 14) or
rewarded for coaxing her limping bulk back to the vets? Over to you.
Whatever the moral post mortem, it seems that despite this animal’s
epic struggle for life, greed = tragedy yet again.
The bigger national picture is actually worse, as there’s now a chronic
lack of co-operation between the different agencies meant to be caring
for jumbos. Worse still, there are serious suspicions of cruel copy-cat
scams. Within 2 months of Motala’s accident, the national media reported
that two other "mine victim" elephants, one aged only 2, were
brought from the borders with serious leg and eye injuries. Some animal
welfare folk are asking if they were maimed deliberately after international
aid for Motala began flooding in.....? Enjoy the well-run elephant camps
around here and all the fun of Elephant Day (p 10), but spare a thought
- and maybe more - for the suffering of far less fortunate animals. Call
or e-mail us for
details on how you can help.
Forty-plus enlightening souls from 9 nations took part
in the first Silver Dove Congress at the Chiangmai Garden Hotel, February
14-19. (...).
MISS
SUPHITCHA. I am seeking friendship or relationship with
a respectable, kind, foreign gentleman 35-60 years old. I am a 28 year
old Thai girl, 158cms tall, 46 kgs weight. (...).
Deputy
Editor
