Wildlife charity raided by Thai park officials

Feb 17, 2012, 11:52 GMT

Bangkok - A well-known, foreign-run wildlife sanctuary was raided by Thai authorities and more than 100 animals were confiscated in what the charity's founder claimed was an act of revenge, charity workers said Friday.

'Since Monday they've confiscated about 103 of our animals, including 33 gibbons, around 50 monkeys, leopard cats and other species,' said Jansaeng Sangnanork, a spokeswoman for the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, a charity started by Dutch national Edwin Weik in 2001.

Officials from the Department of National Parks Department told the charity, which had cared for 400 animals before the raid, that the action was in response to complaints from visitors of mistreatment of animals at the wildlife centre in Phetchaburi province, west of Bangkok.

'Many of these animals were given to us after being rescued from their previous owners, so we can't be expected to have the legal papers on all of them,' Jansaeng said.

Weik said the raid was prompted by his outspoken criticism of national parks and foresty officials, especially for recently failing to prevent the deaths of five wild elephants at Kaengkrachan National Park and Kuiburi National Park.

'This raid is only because we speak up against the illegal traffic in wildlife in Thailand,' Weik said in a message on his website.