Abuse of Wildlife for Tourists

More depressing news of gibbons being used for tourist photo opportunities came from Ko Panyee, a touristy village in Ao Phang-nga National Park. Three baby gibbons were being openly touted for this purpose on the 27th December 2006 despite the fact that a single gibbon had been observed and reported to the Wildlife Department in March 2006, after the observer had been encouraged to do so by the gibbon rehabilitation project in Phuket.

Sad to hear that instead of this pratice being stopped it has been allowed to increase.

Nick Upton, 3rd January 2007.

A report from Phuket of: three Brahminy Kites and two White bellied Sea Eagles being used for tourists to have photographs taken with on Ike Suriwong's Phuket Birders Blog was saddening. Apparently, 100-200 baht per photo with one of these birds was being charged, and this reminded me of similar observations I made at Patong beach in 2001 and 2002. On these occasions I saw a White-bellied Sea Eagle, numerous Gibbons, an Orang Utan and a huge Python being used in this way. Even though trade in these species is illegal they were openly being displayed by their owners (kidnappers) with nearby police paying no attention.

It goes without saying that no visitor to Thailand should get involved with such an activity as it simply perpetuates the trade in these, often endangered, species.

Nick Upton, 15 December 2006.