Asian Elephants dressed up like Pandas in Thailand

The Chiang Mai Zoo successfully breed their first Panda cub last month, which has attracted the attention–and donations–from Thais.  Unfortunately, that has left little room for Thailand’s endangered national symbol, the Thai Asian Elephant.  In order to compete, the staff at the Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal dressed up the elephants to look like pandas and paraded them before school children.

For more information read the LA Times Unleashed blog at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/06/thailands-elephants-are-black-and-white-and-mad-all-over-as-public-interest-shifts-to-new-panda-cub.html

Soraida Salwala, the founder of the Friends of the Asian Elephant and featured in The Eyes of Thailand documentary film, sent Windy Borman the following reaction via email:

The camp that paints live elephants as panda as a so-called way to protest, but I do not think so because they are involved in urban elephants, trading elephants, exporting them out, exploiting them in circuses. We have doubts over many conservation groups that claim their work are for conservation purposes.

I hope you could read Thai, there are a lot of comments over this and most are with FAE.

If these panda elephants were made from other materials as cartoon, boards, paper, plaster or whatever, FAE would not raise our voice.

Elephants are Thailand’s symbol, by making fun of them as if they are clowns in circuses cannot be accepted.

FAE has been fighting for almost seventeen years to raise awareness and seek our government’s involvement.

We remain firm that the Thai government should be attentive to Thai elephants as China does to her pandas. However, it is improper to make fun of Thai elephants. They should have had genuine sincerity in solving the problems of Thai elephants since their camps and those related to these people are the ones creating more problems and earn income by exploiting them.

Soraida Salwala
Founder
Friends of the Asian Elephant
(FAE)
www.elephant-soraida.com

Please join Lily Tomlin and In Defense of Animals for the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ).  This is a global event, with events scheduled in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, so please find one near you: http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_find_an_event.html

Additionally, you can read a recent Associate Press article about elephants’ confinement at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hF65mpAnNUvxYrKkfYW7CmROcmXwD98SVL281

Momentum for IDA’s Elephant Task Force and “The Eyes of Thailand” documentary is building.  Thank you for your continued support!

Best,

Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, “The Eyes of Thailand”

Thank you for your tax-deductible contributions!

http://eyesofthailand.com/support.html

In 1993, Soraida Salwala opened the world’s first Asian Elephant Hospital to treat elephants that are ill or injured as a result of work, abuse or neglect.  To date, she and her staff have treated over 2,000 elephants for everything from eye infections to knife wounds, gunshot wounds, broken bones and landmine injuries.

While Mosha continues to adjust to her new prosthetic limb (See June 12th post), the staff at Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) are treating four new patients: Thongkeaw, Namfon, Somsri and Kamchan.

Thongkeaw, a 30-year old female, arrived on June 6, 2009  because both of her temporal glands have been swollen for the past three months (sizes : 16 x 16 c.m. and 18 x 19 c.m.) According to Soriada, there is “no sign of musth shown but the skin on the gland is thinning.  At least she has come into our care and we shall do our best, as always.”

Thongkeaw arrives back at FAE.

Namfon was disowned by her mother, Boonpan, shorty after she was born on April 27, 2009.  Because elephants are social creatures, they learn parenting skills from the matriarchs in their herd.  Namfon’s mother never learned how to be a mother and therefore tried to trample Namfon when she attempted to nurse.   Soraida writes, “We tried to persuade Boonpan to recognize her own baby but her behaviour this morning was the intention to kill. They have to stay in different Infirmaries away from each other… Boonpan killed her first offspring and [Namfon, which means "rain water"] is her second. We would not risk the baby’s life and shall do our best to make the two happy.”  After several unsuccessful atempts, FAE found an elephant from a nearby elephant camp who just weaned a baby to be Namfon’s wet nurse.  Several weeks later, she is beginning to gain some weight.

Namfon is steadily gaining weight after getting a wet nurse.

Somsri, a 35-year old female who suffered from bloat  and was treated at FAE last year, is back at the Elephant Hospital. Soraida writes:

She has the same symptoms as Kamnoi (who had convulsion) and we are very much worried. Information given to us is quite worrisome because Somsri was chained in the same area Kamnoi was. However, Somsri is going to be given antibiotics and anti-toxin, blood sample to be sent for any toxic or chemicals. She walks fast and head pushing forward just like Kamnoi.  The keeper says she has been in this condition for the past 15 days!!!!!! Fifteen days! They should have not waited this long.

Somsri arrives at FAE for tests. The staff put a chain on her foot to keep her from wandering off and getting more injuries.

Kamchan has had a swollen leg and cloudy left eye for the past three days. Soraida writes, “I am awaiting more details from our vets.”

Soraida and staff are trying to learn why Kamchan has a cloudy eye, among other health issues.

Soraida and FAE clearly have their hands full.  To learn more and to continue to support their work, please visit: http://animom.tripod.com/faepage3.html

Below is a recent update on Mosha from Soraida Salwala, Founder of the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital:

Mosha has grown taller and her prosthetic leg is being made to make her front two legs on the same level. I have the railing for Mosha to place her right leg on so other legs can rest and the weight will not harm her two hind legs.
Soraida Salwala
Founder
Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE)
www.elephant-soraida.com
http://animom.tripod.com/faepage3.html

Staff finishes adjustments on Mosha's new leg

Mosha rests her leg on the railing to relieve the pressure on her hind legs.

Close up of Mosha's 2nd prosthetic leg.

Mosha tests her new prosthetic leg.

Note: Mosha is one FAE patient featured in the documentary, “The Eyes of Thailand”.

Dear Friends,

In researching animal rights organizations for “The Eyes of Thailand”, In Defense of Animals suggested I join their mailing list for the Elephant Task Force.  This turned out to be a very serendipitous decision on many levels and in the short-term it allows me to share that on June 20, 2009 In Defense of Animals will host the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ).  Demonstrations are currently scheduled for California, Oregon, Thailand, Spain, all over the globe!

Please check out the list of groups hosting demonstrations at: http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_find_an_event.html.

Below is an email from Melissa Gonzalez, Elephant Task Force Coordinator for In Defense of Animals, explaining more details about the June 20th events.  Please read it, sign up or start an event, and spread the word.

Thank you!

-Windy Borman

Producer, Writer, and Director, “The Eyes of Thailand”

Dear Members of the Elephant Task Force:

Thank you so much for your dedication and determination to help elephants in zoos and circuses.  As most, if not all of you are aware, IDA has launched our first-ever International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ) and is set to occur on Saturday, June 20.  We are thrilled to have so many events confirmed throughout the US and others countries around the world, yet would like to have greater representation at other zoos where activists have not yet come forward to help.

In addition to requesting more events at zoos with elephants internationally, we are also asking activists located in the US and residing near the list of zoos below, to submit event forms asap.  If someone confirms an event at your local zoo before you do, I will let you know the details and/or perhaps you can work together in a joint effort.  I would be happy to put you in touch with activists in your area working towards our cause.

Houston Zoo
Dickerson Park Zoo
Buttonwood Zoo
Roger Williams Zoo
El Paso Zoo
Indianapolis  Zoo
Little Rock Zoo
Miami Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo
Reid Park Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Buffalo Zoo
Seneca Park Zoo
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Baltimore Zoo

If you live near the zoos above, or other zoos with elephants around the world, please help them by filling out and submitting our IDAEZ event registration form:
http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_event_form.html

The following link contains all the events where we have confirmed events, http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_find_an_event.html.

If your local zoo with elephants is not on the list, PLEASE, take action to help the elephants.
(Please note the Toronto Zoo in Canada is confirmed yet details are pending and due to be received soon.)

[Note: if you confirm an event on or before Monday, June 15, 2009, In Defense of Animals will be able to ship informational materials, pamphlets, etc.].  These materials will be posted on our IDAEZ homepage in next day or two: http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez.html

Please help make the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos an even greater success for elephants by submitting the form today.  We are accepting events up to and including June 19 yet prefer they come in asap.  The greater number of events and participants at zoos with elephants translates into a greater number of people wanting to help them.  Thank you for your time and consideration.  We appreciate all that you have done and continue to do to help the elephants suffering zoos.

If you are involved with Facebook, or are considering it, I would like to invite you to join our Facebook Group, In Defense of Elephants.

———————
Sincerely,

Melissa Gonzalez
Elephant Task Force Coordinator
In Defense of Animals, IDA
3010 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael, CA  94901
E:  Melissa@idausa.org
T:  707.981.7701
F:  707.981.7702
www.HelpElephants.com