Vic: Native Australian animals bound for troubled Thai zoo

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2006
Vic: Native Australian animals bound for troubled Thai zoo

Zoos in Sydney and Melbourne have agreed to send 40 Australian native animals to a
safari park in Thailand .. at which it's alleged many animals have died.

In exchange .. Melbourne Zoo and Taronga Zoo will import eight Asian elephants.

Fairfax newspapers are reporting the plan is detailed in a memorandum of agreement
between the Thai Government and the Victorian and New South Wales governments .. that
was signed in June 2004.

It was tabled in the Sydney Administrative Appeals Tribunal during a recent attempt
by animal welfare groups to stop the elephant import.

One Thai activist has told the newspapers .. birds in the Chiang Mai Night Safari are
dying every day.

The activist also says three out of six crocodiles had died of infection and one hyena
was killed by others.

Thai media claim 104 animals have died.

In a statement .. the zoos say the transfer of Australian animals to Thai zoos isn't
contingent on the elephant program.

AAP RTV jb/goc/

KEYWORD: ZOOS (MELBOURNE)

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