2 November
2006 - The Australian Government Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
has asked for restraint from animal liberation
groups as eight Asian elephants finally complete
their long journey from Thailand to Taronga and
Melbourne zoos.
The elephants - including Pak
Boong (Morning Glory), Tang Mo (Watermelon) and
the young male Gung (Prawn) - have been held at
the quarantine facilities on Cocos Island for
the past three months, awaiting the final leg
of the journey to Australia
"The elephants have passed
their health tests with flying colours and their
Australian keepers have had a great opportunity
to bond with these magnificent animals,"
Senator Campbell said.
The Minister made his comments
as he welcomed the first of the eight Asian elephants
as they arrived at their new home.
"I thank the Thai people
for allowing Australians this chance - elephants
are iconic to the Thai people in the same way
that Australian native species such as kangaroos
and koalas are to us."
"It's important though
that we don't see a repeat of the protests and
blockades in Thailand in July which brought distress
to the very creatures the protesters were purporting
to be concerned about."
"The importation of the
elephants will allow the two zoos to undertake
important captive breeding programmes to help
ensure the continued survival of Asian elephants."
"Asian elephants have now
had a long history of being kept in zoos and we
have an increasingly good understanding of what
needs to be done to keep them happy and comfortable."
The zoos have created special
habitats for the elephants, which include enlarged
enclosures featuring special design elements such
as sleeping mounds and mud wallows. Other animal
welfare provisions include exercise requirements
and round-the-clock closed circuit TV monitoring.
The import approval under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999 was conditional on zoos meeting a series
of animal welfare provisions, and the zoos are
required to provide ongoing reports to the Department
of the Environment and Heritage on the elephants'
welfare.
"I encourage Australians
to visit the elephants and say 'g'day' to welcome
them to Australia," Senator Campbell said.
Rob Broadfield
