Thailand collects data on captive tigers to tackle illegal wildlife trade

Record ID: 84616

  • Title: Thailand collects data on captive tigers to tackle illegal wildlife trade
  • Date: 6th October 2016
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF OFFICIAL TAKING TIGER'S BLOOD SAMPLE
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2016 11:28
  • Keywords: Thailand tigers zoo conservation microchip database wildlife trade illegal captivity
  • Location: CHONBURI, THAILAND
  • City: CHONBURI, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Life Sciences,Science
  • Reuters ID: LVA00352V9F7P
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thailand National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation staff checked microchips and collected blood samples from tigers kept in a Thai zoo on Thursday (October 6), as the country steps up its efforts to register and keep stock of its captive tigers.
    Sriracha Tiger Zoo, in Chonburi province, is a popular tourist attraction offering tiger shows featuring flaming hoops and tightropes and the opportunity to feed new-born cubs.
    But the zoo has faced opposition from animal rights activists who say the practices are cruel and that the place should be shut down.
    Officials say convincing the country's tiger owners that registering the animals is important to prove they are legal has been a challenge.
    "Business owners weren't sure about the registration in the past because they didn't understand the process. But once their tigers are registered, they can possess them legally. If they don't do this, we have to press for legal processes and take them into government possession," explained Paiboon Chaikoon, a wildlife protection officer.
    The inspection of the zoo, home to 323 registered tigers, will carry on into Friday (October 7), officials said.
    Another 20 tiger cubs have yet to be registered, but the zoo says it still has time, according to government regulations.
    Tiger tourism has come under scrutiny in Thailand after wildlife authorities found scores of dead cubs while rescuing animals from the popular Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, in June.
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