ID :
164986
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 12:14
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http://m.oananews.org//node/164986
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Authority warns of Thai elephants being at risk of contracting diseases
BANGKOK, March 1 (TNA) - Elephants in Thailand have been found to be at risk of contracting human or livestock-borned diseases, prompting local authorities concerned to urgently seek effective measures to prevent and counter the problem to protect the endangered species.
Amnaj Khumplikhit, Acting Director of Thailand’s Forest Industry Organisation, disclosed the finding on Tuesday (March 1), citing recent random health check-ups for more than 800 locally-raised elephants countrywide, which showed the giant mammals were prone to such contagious outbreaks as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and rabies, as well as parasite infections in blood and even tuberculosis.
Amnaj said that his organisation is working with other public agencies concerned to urgently find the measures against the deadly diseases for the local herds. According to the Forest Industry Organisation chief, an elephant care centre, called “Ban Pang La”, has already been opened in Thailand’s northern Lampang Province to particularly treat local elephants infected with tuberculosis.
The senior Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry official, however, assured tourists of their safety, as there have been no cases of elephant infections of the deadly diseases so far, noting that elephant camps across Thailand have also been notified of the diseases with official guidances provided for them to deal with any outbreak of the diseases, namely a regular health check-ups for their elephants, at least every six months, and a strict quarantine for any of those in their herds suspected to have contracted the communicable diseases. (TNA)
Amnaj Khumplikhit, Acting Director of Thailand’s Forest Industry Organisation, disclosed the finding on Tuesday (March 1), citing recent random health check-ups for more than 800 locally-raised elephants countrywide, which showed the giant mammals were prone to such contagious outbreaks as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and rabies, as well as parasite infections in blood and even tuberculosis.
Amnaj said that his organisation is working with other public agencies concerned to urgently find the measures against the deadly diseases for the local herds. According to the Forest Industry Organisation chief, an elephant care centre, called “Ban Pang La”, has already been opened in Thailand’s northern Lampang Province to particularly treat local elephants infected with tuberculosis.
The senior Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry official, however, assured tourists of their safety, as there have been no cases of elephant infections of the deadly diseases so far, noting that elephant camps across Thailand have also been notified of the diseases with official guidances provided for them to deal with any outbreak of the diseases, namely a regular health check-ups for their elephants, at least every six months, and a strict quarantine for any of those in their herds suspected to have contracted the communicable diseases. (TNA)
