Thailand

(asked on 8th July 2014) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Thai counterpart on allegations of the mistreatment of elephants in trekking camps in Thailand.


Answered by
Lord Swire Portrait
Lord Swire
This question was answered on 14th July 2014

I have not had any discussions with my Thai counterpart on the allegations of mistreatment of elephants in trekking camps in Thailand. However, my noble friend Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA, visited Bangkok at the beginning of May 2014 and was able to pursue a number of animal welfare issues with the Thai government. He discussed efforts to counter the illegal trade in wildlife in Thailand with his Thai counterpart, senior officials, non-government organisations (NGOs), the UN and like-minded Embassies.

Additionally, our Embassy in Bangkok has reinforced the messages stemming from the February 2014 London Declaration to prevent illegal wildlife trade, and continues to engage with those organisations in Thailand which are working to deliver this agenda despite the coup.

Reticulating Splines