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Published on August 4, 2007

 "This is not Thai language, but rather a stylised script meant to give Australians a feel¬ing of the style of Thai writing," explained Mark Williams, the zoo's media relations manager.

Williams was not clear about why the zoo couldn't simply use actual Thai script for the same effect, and admitted that the Thai consul in Sydney had also asked about the sign.

The sign has upset Soraida Salwala, secretarygeneral of Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation. She has never vis¬ited the zoo but heard about the sign several months ago. She wants the zoo to change the sign to one with actual Thai script.

She also demanded that the zoo give more respect to Thailand and the elephants after hearing about posters put up not far from the elephant enclosure.

The posters, laid out in newspaper style, tell about the hardships faced by Asian ele¬phants in Thailand and other countries - in particular, how many of them roam the streets begging for money. Next to the posters is a donation box to help the elephants.

"When taking our elephants, they said it was for good rela¬tions between the two coun¬tries. What kind of relationship is this now? It seems they want¬ed to make friends with the ele¬phants while destroying [the image of] Thai people and the country by public condemna¬tion," said Soraida, who vowed she would try to get the ele¬phants back from Taronga.

The five Thai elephants were sent to the Australian staterun zoo last year in exchange for native Australian animals, such as koala bears, and a longterm commitment to assist the Thai government in a wide range of measures for elephant conser¬vation.

Laithongrian Meephan, owner of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal and former owner of some of the elephants now at Taronga Zoo, agreed that the sign should be changed but said it might be impolite for Thais to comment on the issue.

"It is up to the management of the zoo; we should not inter¬vene. In this case it is like we have allowed our daughter to marry a man so we should not intervene in their family mat¬ters," said Laithongrian, widely known by his former name, Sompas.

Laithongrian said the most important thing was the ele¬phants, not the display. He said he received reports from the zoo every month that said the ele¬phants were in good physical condition and leading a happy life.

Williams confirmed that they were well taken care of, saying their keepers spent all day with them every day. All five jumbos are now being trained to walk through the zoo, he said.

On the day The Nation visit¬ed, there were only four jumbos in the enclosure. The other one, said Williams, might be in one of several paddocks.

Published on August 4, 2007

Pennapa Hongthong

 The Nation