Wildlife debate ends in fight
2005-12-23 13:14
Bangkok - A television debate on a controversial plan to ship wildlife from Kenya to a safari park in northern Thailand ended in blows on Thursday, when proponents attacked animal welfare activists.
A proposal to import 175 animals from the East African nation to the Chiang Mai Night Safari Zoo has drawn the ire of conservationists in both Kenya and Thailand.
Last week, the proposal was suspended by a Kenyan court order.
Conservationist Nikom Putra, said that, as soon as the broadcast of the heated debate ended on Thursday night, two men accompanying the zoo's director rushed at two activists and punched them in the face.
The fracas lasted several minutes.
Studio workers said the zoo head, Prodprasob Surasawadee, may have provoked the attack, rising from his chair, pointing at the faces of the two conservationists and asking: "What do you want?"
Nikom said he planned to lodge a complaint with police.
Earlier, Kenya said it would give the animals to Thailand as a gift to strengthen relations, but conservationists voiced concern over how the relocation will affect the animals.
Local and international conservationists have also accused the Kenyan government of shipping the animals abroad for money. It has denied these allegations.
The animals were to have included African buffalo, various species of antelope, zebra and giraffe.
- AP