Kenya to export wild animals to Thailand after all

The controversial deal to export more than 130 animals to Thailand was finally signed yesterday.

The deal was sealed despite protests from local and international animal conservation groups opposed to the sale.

President Kibaki and Thai Prime Minister Thaskin Shinawatra witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding which will see Kenya sell 135 animals, including some on the endangered list, to Thailand in exchange of an estimated Sh80 million. The money is expected to be used in the management of rogue elephants.

The wildlife management agreement is part of a communique signed before Dr Shinawatra left for a tour of the Maasai Mara game reserve.

The agreement sets the stage for the transfer of the animals to be settled on the 1.3 square kilometre Chiang Mai Night Safari Zoo, which is expected to host an additional 1,700 game from Thailand's own national parks and 40 from Australia.

Among the animals to be exported are topi, elands, waterbucks, impala, grants and Thompson's gazelle. Others are wildebeests, dik dik, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, serval cats, buffalos, hippos, kudus and gerenuks.

But it is the export of white and black rhinos, lions, leopards and cheetahs which has sparked protests from animal conservationists who believe they may be unsuited to Thailand's tropical climate. Majority of the animals are found in the savanna. 

There are only 600 white and black rhinos in Kenya and less than 30,000 lions inAfrica today. Both animals are not yet on the list of endangered species despite efforts by Kenya to have them included. 

The Thai government has requested for 20 lions and at least two white rhinos for the zoo located in the the Prime Minister's home region of Chiang Mai. The zoo is expected to cost in excess of Sh215.5 billion. 

Apart from the zoo, the project will also feature an elephant park, an aquarium, a spa, shopping complex, resort-style hotel, decorative garden and an amusement park, among other facilities which are aimed at boosting the country's tourism.

The transfer of the animals in exchange of financial assistance followed a request by Dr Shinawatra when President Kibaki visited Thailand in October last year.

Yesterday's agreement was signed at State House, Nairobi, by Tourism minister Morris Dzoro and his counterpart in charge of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Yongyut Tiyapairat.

Mr Tiyapairat is in a delegation led by Dr Shinawatra, who leaves the country today after a three-day State visit, mainly tied to the animals deal.

The black and white rhinos, which are in the export list, are protected under the CITES Convention as a result of their dwindling numbers.

Their number has reduced from 20,000 in the 1970s and the current 600 are mostly found in private sanctuaries to protect them from poachers. The species were almost wiped out in the 1990s following rampant poaching in Kenya's national parks.

Other animals in the export list, including lions and cheetahs as well as elephants, have been declining in numbers as a result of a thriving bushmeat trade. For example, Nairobi National Park has about 8 lions currently, down from about 30 in the 1990s.

While the cats may not be eaten, conservationists say they fall victim to indiscriminate traps set up for species that produce meat.

According to the Bangkok Post, the chairman of the government committee in charge of the Chiang Mai Night Safari project, Plodprasop Suraswadi Suraswadi, shrugged off criticism from wildlife conservationists who expressed concern over the plight of the animals. 

He said Thailand did not beg for the animals, thereby lending credence to reports that they were paying for them, contrary to reports by the Kenya Government.

Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi has been quoted denying that the Kenya Government had promised the Thais animals in exchange of financial assistance.

Yesterday's agreement is likely to heighten criticism from conservationists who have renewed their petition to President Kibaki to reject the request because it was not in Kenya's interest. 

When the lobbyists got word the prime minister would be in the country for three days, they marched to Mr Dzoro's office to seek clarification on the matter.

They are questioning how animals captured from the wild can be confined in a zoo.

The minister however refused to see them saying he can only do that on Monday. By then Mr Shinawatra will have left the country with the agreement.

He departs for Turkey today at 11 am after officially opening a Thai trade exhibition at the Village Market, Nairobi.

The signing of the agreement caught conservationists by surprise as they did not anticipate it was part of the PM's programme.

They asked the Government to make the MOU details public because wildlife was Kenya's heritage.

Youth for Conservation boss Josephat Ngonyo said conservationists were shocked the Government went ahead and signed the agreement despite the opposition it had elicited.

He said: "Kenyans need to be consulted and be told what kind of partnership this is and whether it involves the translocation of our wildlife."

International Fund for Animal Welfare communications officer Elizabeth Wamba said if the agreement includes transferring the animals, then it is sad for the country to sign such a deal without consulting the public because of its implications for future generations.

She said: "It's unfortunate we have not heard the Government seeking the views of Kenyans although future generations will bear the brunt of such an action."

Born Free Foundation also asked the Government to make the details of the memorandum public.

The Regional Spokesperson Alice Owen said they will raise the issue with the minister at a meeting slated for Monday.

Mr Dzoro could not be reached as he had accompanied the prime minister to Maasai Mara while the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said they needed time to study details of the agreement.