Jan. 29, 2005, 6:19PM

300 animals' move to Asia worries advocates
But officials say the transfer of the wild species to Thailand zoos will aid Africa tourism
By MARC LACEY
New York Times

NAIROBI, KENYA - Animal welfare groups have condemned plans by the Kenyan government to send 300 wild animals, including rhinos, cheetahs and lions, to Thailand, where they are to be placed in zoos and safari parks.

Kenyan officials portray the transfer as part of an effort to increase tourism to Kenya and ultimately to help the country's animal population. Kenyan tourism has been on the rise over the last year, and Asia is viewed as an important source of new visitors.

While it has not been disclosed whether there will be financial compensation for the animals, Thailand has agreed to promote visits to Kenya in Thailand and neighboring countries in return.

But animal rights groups last week said the plan to relocate threatened species would probably backfire and end up damaging Kenya's reputation as a responsible steward of its animal population.

"This is shocking," said Daphne Sheldrick, who runs a popular elephant orphanage in Nairobi, which cares for abandoned elephants and then returns them to the wild. "There's no words to describe it. It will have an adverse effect on tourism."

Kenyans' financial struggle
With its vast savannahs, Kenya is one of Africa's premier safari locations. But the country has struggled in past years to contain poachers, who prey on such species as elephants and rhinos.

The biggest challenge today is reconciling the country's growing human population with animals in need of undisturbed space.

Lack of financial resources is a problem as well.

Last month, President Mwai Kibaki rejected a proposal that would have permitted game hunting in Kenya as a way of generating more revenue for conservation efforts.

The animal-transfer issue first arose in October, when Kibaki was touring Asia and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand requested the animals.

Thailand's deputy prime minister, Suwat Liptapanlop, came to Kenya in December to continue discussions on the transfer, and earlier this month, Kenya sent a delegation of wildlife experts to Thailand to inspect the zoos where the animals would be housed.

A subsequent report prepared by Kenyan officials recommended sending the animals, officials said.

Fearing for animals' lives
But animal rights groups say Kenya's animal population has declined over the last 20 years and cannot afford any additional reductions.

"Kenya is not overpopulated with wildlife," said Winnie Kiiru, regional director of the Born Free Foundation in Nairobi.

"These animals are going to undergo a lot of stress," she said. "Our experience shows that during mass captures like this a lot of animals will die."

The animals would also suffer, advocates said, if Kenya accepted Thailand's invitation to send some of its elephant trainers, known as mahouts.

"It is widely known that cruel and inhumane methods used in attempts to dominate animals such as elephants include the use of hooked ear loops, broomsticks and whips," said Elizabeth Wamba, spokeswoman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.