THAILAND: Animals are released into the Sap Langka wildlife sanctuary to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej's mother.
Record ID:
739253
THAILAND: Animals are released into the Sap Langka wildlife sanctuary to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej's mother.
- Title: THAILAND: Animals are released into the Sap Langka wildlife sanctuary to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej's mother.
- Date: 21st July 2006
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) TUD SOOMBON, 70-YEAR-OLD VILLAGER, SAYING: "We will help look after these animals and we will tell our children not to poach them." ONLOOKERS STANDING AROUND RELEASED BIRD STANDING IN THE GRASS
- Embargoed: 5th August 2006 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVABPYQ7Q6MCH88UCCNBPJEYVQ3U
- Story Text: Nine hundred and ninety-nine animals were on Tuesday (July 18) released by Thai wildlife officials into a wildlife sanctuary to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej's mother.
Birds and fowl, deer and wild boars were among the animals released from their enclosures into the Sap Langka wildlife sanctuary in central Lopburi province as hundreds of villagers from nearby villages and other guests invited to the Buddhist ceremony looked on.
The release of animals is a Buddhist merit-making tradition that demonstrates compassion in the release of life and the number "9" is considered an auspicious number in Thai culture.
But Tuesday's reintroduction of animals into the wild was criticised by some, who said organisers were for not following international guidelines in ensuring the animals were released into their former natural habitats.
Among the animals released, some had been born in captivity in the kingdom's wildlife breeding centres, which usually are home to wildlife seized from the region's illegal wildlife trade.
But the head of the Wildlife Breeding Division of the country's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Variety Conservation, Panit Sanpote, insisted department officials had done their part in ensuring animals were being released into a suitable habitat.
"We've surveyed the area to ensure this will be the right environment for the wild animals to be released into. So I'm sure the animals we released today will be able to survive and (even) increase their population," Panit Sanpote told Reuters.
After wildlife officials unlatched enclosures and threw the doors open for the animals to run freely, many dashed immediately into the foliage of the 14,750 acres wildlife reserve.
Others needed a little prodding to embrace their new found freedom.
Villagers living close to the wildlife reserve were more than pleased to welcome their new feathered and furry neighbours.
"We will help look after these animals and we will tell our children not to poach them," Tud Soonbon, a 70 year old villager who has been living in the area for 20 years said.
Wildlife officials say the release is part of a pioneer project to release animals from wildlife breeding centres into the wild.
Some of the animals have had microchips implanted, and forestry officials working in the reserve will be monitoring the released animals to see if any are poached. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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