A message by our Founder about the raids at Elephant Nature Park

18 Mar 12

Dear Friends and supporters,

On the 12th of March our lawyers presented all of our elephant documents to the DNP official, and since that day we still have not heard anything from them - daily we hold onto our concern of what will happen next.

Initially, the DNP officials came to us expecting to find a camp with over 70 illegal elephants and a breeding facility which trafficked to China. Of course, they found only 35 elephants, mostly old or injured in some way. Yet even then, on the second and third raids, they still wanted to confiscate our handicapped elephants, and threatened to check our property and disturb our animals living here.

Since that day, the living at the Park has not been peaceful; daily we have strangers come to take pictures of our staff, workers and mahouts. A growing number of our staff are deciding to leave because they work in fear. On the third raid, one of the officials said to us, which can be verified by the VDO, that the director of the DNP now ordered him to check the documentation on all of our land. We are continually harassed.

 It makes it difficult to enjoy the task of caring for our animals. I am thankful for all of your support from outside Thailand - for all voices and letters sent to the officials and the government; also, for all the people who participated in campaigns to help us and to raise awareness about the situation of elephants here during rallies at their local Thai Embassy, we thank you to help us during this difficult time .

The support from all of you enlarges our heart and we remain steadfast and determined to stand up to fight for the animals in this country. Sometimes I hardly believe that something like this will exist when I try to protect our animals in Thailand. I get help and support from outside of Thailand BUT I GET HARASSMENT AND THREATS FROM WITHIN !! IT IS SHAME, NOT SATISFACTION, THAT THE OFFICIALS OUGHT TO FEEL - THOSE WHO FAIL IN THEIR OWN DUTY TO PROTECT WHAT IS OUR GREAT NATURAL HERITAGE.