The Elephant Refuge and Education Centre (EREC)

This centre gives refuge to domesticated elephants that have been roaming the streets of Bangkok and other cities ...

The Wildlife Friends of Thailand currently run a program to keep the domestic elephants of the streets of Bangkok and other big cities, and support a pilot project where wild elephants are being kept in the forest near domestic elephants.

http://www.wfft.org/EREC.html

Photostream with report posted on WFFT Facebook today:

Elephant Rescue - Hua Hin | December 2011

This elephant needs urgent rescue. Prachuab, an old female elephant that has been working at elephant camps carrying around tourists for the last 30 years needs your help! She is a very tall elephant that is way to skinny for her age and size, still at work every day at an elephant camp near the WFFT center. As you can see on some of the pictures she has wounds from hits with the bull-hook and from the wooden frame with seats for tourists. We would love to rescue Prachuab URGENTLY, and get her out of the elephant camp PERMANENTLY, to have her RETIRE NOW!

PLease donate towards Prachuab's rescue so can get the treatment, love and care she so badly needs. Every amount small or big will make this happen!!!

For those people that are confused after the bad news yesterday, we received complaints only 3 days ago about Prachuab, we are not trying to replace Yuy, the elephant that passed away yesterday. The problems is however that Yuy and Prachuab are two out of many that need(ed) help...

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=160...11827656&type=3

WFFT has recently rescued BUA NGUN, JUNE and YUY.
Information about these 3 elephants has been posted on other forums.

BUA NGUN (Silver Lotus) - Rescue, Retirement, Relocation Forum:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...p?showtopic=316

JUNE – Rescue, Retirement, Relocation Forum:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...p?showtopic=342

YUY – Rescue, Retirement, Relocation Forum:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...=994&st=0&#last
Sadly, YUY was at WFFT only 5 days before she died.
Elephant Deaths Forum:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...1023&st=0&#last

Thai officials raid wildlife sanctuary

Between 60 and 70 armed officials raided Edwin Wiek, founder and secretary-general of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), on Monday at 11.00 am amid claims that the wildlife sanctuary had illegal possession of 20 elephants. The WFFT have 6 legal elephants in their possession which are looked after by 3 handlers.

http://wildlifenews.co.uk/2012/thai-offici...life-sanctuary/

This page updated Feb. 25th. Can be copy & pasted; links shortened.

A/o Feb 22 petition has been reopened. Please sign the petition if you haven't already. Lek & Edwin desperately need our support.
Tweet/share petition short link: http://tiny.cc/thairaid

See also related posts:
ENP:
http://bit.ly/w2SEXM
EREC/WFFT:
http://bit.ly/wnUb31

The history:
http://bit.ly/xalBg8
http://bit.ly/A2miYm

Follow updates on WFFT FB:
http://tiny.cc/wfftfb

Resource Center:
http://tiny.cc/wfftrc

Edwin & Lek NEED our help to get this to the international press. If anyone can help, please do.

Media of Thailand: http://bit.ly/crK70d

How to Help (link to this post): http://tiny.cc/wffthelp

Short link to this post for tweeting/sharing is: http://bit.ly/zzsNuD

Here are videos documenting the animal abuse the Thai government officials are forcing on the EREC/WFFT other-animals. WARNING: Hard to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/user/LaureneWFFT?feature=watch

Video just posted: Edwin explaining situation. Animals being tortured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaxCukNCp1k...NbSsczGW5Y8mUbA

Please contact the Thai Embassy and tell them this needs to stop.

Royal Thai Embassy,
1024 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20007
Tel. (202) 944-3600
Fax. (202) 944-3611

information@thaiembdc.org
consular@thaiembdc.org

Source page: http://thaiembdc.us/wpdc/

Someone's letter posted on FB:
http://www.facebook.com/AnimalPlanet/posts/10150582174263375

More contacts here: http://tiny.cc/wfftfb

Email addys added Feb 23:
thaican@mfa.go.th, contact@thaiembassy.ca, info@thaicongenvancouver.org, embassy@thaivienna.at, thaiembbrazil@gmail.com, thaigug@mfa.go.th, mail@thaiembassy.dk, general@thaiembassy.de, thaidel@mfa.go.th, romeemb@yahoo.com, thai@thainbi.or.ke, thaitip@mfa.go.th, thaiemb@thaiembnepal.org.np, thaivisa@online.no, thaidoh@qatar.net.qa, info@thaiembassy.co.za, thaiauh@emirates.net.ae, thaiembargen@fibertel.com.ar, thaiemb@brunet.bn, sthai01@thai-consulate.org.hk, thaicnn@mfa.go.th, thaijkm@mfa.go.th, infosect@thaiembassy.jp, thaiemkw@kems.net, thaiembassy.thehague@gmail.com, rteseoul@kornet.net, mission.thailand@ties.itu.int, info@thaiconsulatela.org, info@thaiconsulatevietnam.com, thaikmg@public.km.yn.cn, thaixcg@gmail.com, consulate@thaiembassy.fi, thaiath@otenet.gr, thaiccu@mfa.go.th, thaiccu@airtelmail.in, info@thaiembassy-tehran.org, thaikula@mfa.go.th, thaiemb@dslplus.net.pk, thaiemb@thaiemb.internetdsl.pl, thaibuh@speedmail.ro, thaidkr@sentoo.sn, thaicmb@sltnet.lk, csinfo@thaiembassyuk.org.uk, info@thaiconsulnewyork.com, thaisydney@thaiconsulatesydney.org, thaibxl@thaiembassy.be, consular@thaiembassy.ca, thaiemb@volny.cz, thaiemba@mail.datanet.hu, ambrd@mail.datanet.hu, thaimub@mfa.go.th, thaisr@netvision.net.il, thaikob@mfa.go.th, thai.lis@mail.telepac.pt, consular@thaiembassymoscow.com, consular@thaiembassy.sg, consular@thaiembassy.se, thaiank@ttmail.com, consular@thaiembdc.org, prforeign@thailand.prd.go.th, info@thephuketnews.com,

DNP addys:
dg@dnp.go.th, samran_r@dnp.go.th, ddg_enforcement@dnp.go.th, dg_technical@dnp.go.th, ssdnp@dnp.go.th, ig@dnp.go.th, iau@dnp.go.th, asdu@dnp.go.th, cao@dnp.go.th, dwffp@dnp.go.th, lad@dnp.go.th, fpfco@dnp.go.th, pio@dnp.go.th, pardo@dnp.go.th, fro@dnp.go.th, wcmo@dnp.go.th, wco@dnp.go.th, npo@dnp.go.th, paro1@dnp.go.th paro2@dnp.go.th, paro3@dnp.go.th, paro4@dnp.go.th, paro5@dnp.go.th, paro6@dnp.go.th, paro7@dnp.go.th, paro8@dnp.go.th, paro9@dnp.go.th, paro10@dnp.go.th, paro11@dnp.go.th, paro12@dnp.go.th, paro13@dnp.go.th, paro14@dnp.go.th, paro15@dnp.go.th, paro16@dnp.go.th, parob1@dnp.go.th, parob3@dnp.go.th, parob6@dnp.go.th, parob13@dnp.go.th, parob16@dnp.go.th

Armed Thai Officials Raid Wildlife Rescue NGO

On Monday morning, February 13, 60 armed agents from the Thailand Department of National Parks and the Thai paramilitary Border Patrol Police raided non-profit wildlife rescue facility Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand in Petchaburi about three hours southwest of Bangkok. According to accounts by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, Jansaeng Sangnanork, wife of founder Edwin Wiek, was arrested and escorted by 30 armed agents from the facility after failure to produce requested legal documentation

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/20...ife-rescue-ngo/

Tweeted by Edwin Wiek 5 hours ago - see video at link

Todays best moment, Thai actor and singer TOM DUNDEE stops the raid by threatening trouble THAI SPOKEN http://bit.ly/xWnr0q

Keep sharing this story! The pressure needs to stay on!

UPDATE: Someone translated. Translation here:
http://www.facebook.com/WildlifeFriendsFoundation

Getting bigger press:

Endangered animals confiscated in Thailand after sanctuary founder speaks out
http://www.examiner.com/dog-training-in-lo...nder-speaks-out

Armed Thai Officials Raid Wildlife Rescue NGO’s
In an exposé for The Nation on January 24th, Wiek specifically mentioned corruption by politicians, government officials and businessmen tied to elephant camps and the cover-up of baby elephant smuggling to “safe houses” near Thailand’s borders and, on February 12, was quoted in The Guardian about a tiger trafficking bust allegedly in connection with several private zoos in Thailand. (See The Guardian and The Nation).
http://www.chiangraitimes.com/news/5785.html

Tweeted by Edwin Wiek 5 hrs ago:
6th day of the battle for rescued wildlife! No idea what time DNP be back, help for us from Bangkok is mobilized. Natl TV present today. https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinWiek

Edwin Wiek sums up the problem:

Thai officials raid WFFT Animal sanctuary, Feb 15, 2012

"Some people still see the big money that can be made from the poaching, the wildlife trade and the wildlife slaughterhouses, as a forcing drive. These people are in my humble opinion the filth of society, on one line with drug dealers and human traffickers.

The reality however is different as the officials here, in this case the Department of National Parks do not mind the NGO’s helping out as long as they are blind, deaf and dumb. You will be allowed to help, in the case of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), for a period of almost 12 years, but only if you do not speak up about the problems that Thailand’s wildlife and currently especially the wild elephants of Thailand face." --Edwin Wiek

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-749251?ref=feeds/latest

Keep sharing this story. It has the power to transform the region.

Petition: http://tiny.cc/thairaid

Some reports under the title “Armed Thai Officials Raid Wildlife Rescue NGO[s]” state that the elephants at WFFT have been confiscated.
A member of TEC Facebook advises that this is not true.

Hard to keep track of all the info coming in on this story.

Cross-referencing.

See post in "Elephant Smuggling/Trafficking", Thailand":

"Instead of going after the commercial elephant camps the DNP now attacks Thai rescue NGO’s to shut them up? While these places are raided elephant camps in Huahin, Ayutthaya, Pattaya and in de rest of Thailand are moving out their young elephants into hiding!"

http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...ndpost&p=757131


Parks Department out of order, Opinion

The DNP is seizing all animals and arresting WFFT staff, claiming animal torture and no licence to hold wild animals.... This situation is disgraceful, as the WFFT is protecting the same interests as the DNP. -- Olivier Douard, Bangkok

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Pa...r-30176130.html

This post was updated Mar 5, 2012 by t&tt.

Tweet from Edwin Wiek 1 hr ago:
DNP officials that raided us last week will be charged with theft in court for removing unprotected animals from @WFFThai
https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinWiek

Pics (Warning: distressing)
http://www.facebook.com/WildlifeFriendsFoundation?sk=photos

Keep sharing, writing newspapers, contacting Thai embassy:
http://tiny.cc/wfftrc

Tweet from Edwin Wiek, Founder WFFT 11 hrs ago:
HOT NEWS new raid by DNP confirmed by officials. Not interested in evidence but just want to save face? Need help!
https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinWiek

Tweet from Edwin Wiek Founder WFFT 7 hrs ago:
For the first time in my life I feel that evil power might win from what is right and good. 12 years wasted.
https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinWiek

Tweet from LucyClark WFFT Hospital Mgr 5 hrs ago:
Corruption. We have been very outspoken about elephant killings, and now the DNP are trying to silence us. Animals now suffering
https://twitter.com/#!/LucyWildlife

Keep it going! Contact the embassies, newspapers, tweet, etc.
http://tiny.cc/wfftrc

Thanks for keeping us all up to date in these dangerous times, t&tt ...

Tweets from Edwin:

9 hrs ago
Officials gathered at 10AM near our village but left about 10:30 for no known reason. Currently taking further legal steps. Storm is over?...Elephant killings must stop!

3hrs ago
Had almost full house at #FCCT press conference in Bangkok today. Very happy to see many Thai supporters.

17mins ago
All staff and volunteers arrived back @WFFThai at 1.30AM from the press release. Tmr I have to be on live talkshow in evening so back to Bkk

https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinWiek

FYI, Petition closed. Brought to FCCT press conference Tues night. 20k+ signatures submitted. #20,000 was a Thai woman. :)
UPDATE: Feb 22 Petition was reopened - New goal 50k:
http://tiny.cc/thairaid

VIDEO: Edwin talking to CITES Thailand: http://bit.ly/xAqcsJ

VIDEO: Edwin FCCT press conference Feb 21:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...d&v=Mfb88Ja_AaY

Thanks for keeping everyone posted on the events in Thailand. Finally it seems that the confiscation of animals from WFFT and ENP has stopped. I tried to watch the videos of the monkeys being captured but couldn't finish watching. Horrible!

Heartbreaking, yes.

2 hrs ago

Raid begins:

Lucy Clark, WFFT hospital- pic:
https://twitter.com/#!/LucyWildlife/sta...2418688/photo/1

Edwin:
Tomorrow surely will be raided again. The use of helicopter confirmed, armed people now at our center at night. Animal rescue is a crime?
https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinWiek

Letter writing resources:
http://www.wix.com/anoelle45/wffthelp#!resources

The first asiatic bear just been taken. They darted her twice and she is currently in a tiny cage with a towel on her face and probably won't able to move when she will wake up... We are all shocked... They are still talking about taking 103 animals away...
http://on.fb.me/xytyqW

Email addys:
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=256085667803867

Petition reopened. 50k goal. Please share:
http://tiny.cc/thairaid

Tweet from Edwin 30 mins ago:
please understand that now this problem is very big. Some people now will try everything to make us look bad. make up bad story.
https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinWiek

Edwin spoke in-studio on Thai TV 5.
Translation: http://on.fb.me/x7C1yZ

Absolute HORROR!

103 animals seized in wildlife centre raid

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lite/news/28129...ife-centre-raid

Follow WFFT FB for action steps. It's a public page.
https://www.facebook.com/WildlifeFriendsFoundation

My thoughts are with WFFT Staff and Volunteers as they watch the animals they love and care for ripped away from their home. Their heartbreak can be felt across oceans.

Dutch media has picked this story up: http://bit.ly/yLOapu

This needs more media attention. If you have media contacts please send them this compiled post: http://bit.ly/zzsNuD

Please tweet/share!

From WFFT 24 Feb 2012 - Edwin Wiek answers the DNP accusations:

Only tools of the DNP are lies and ungrounded accusations, while they hide behind their “laws”

http://www.wfft.org/wildlife-general/only-...ed-accusations/

Someone on WFFT FB got a reply back from BornFree:

...We are calling on the public to make their voices heard on this matter, therefore, if you have not done so already, please contact your Thai Embassy asking that they investigate this matter urgently. For UK residents, the contact details for the Ambassador in London are provided below:
His Excellency Mr Kitti Wasinondh
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary
Royal Thai Embassy
29-30 Queen’s Gate
London
SW7 5JB
Email: thaiduto@btinternet.com
Those outside the UK, will find the relevant contact details for their Thai Embassy at http://www.thaiembassy.org/ .

Apparently Ricky Gervais tweeted to his 1 million+ following re: the petition http://tiny.cc/thairaid which is now 38k+ :)

Embassy letter sent.

...The DNP applauded their efforts after catching the final gibbon, cheering themselves and telling foreign WFFT staff and volunteers to go back to their own country.

https://www.facebook.com/saveallelephants/p...380990078595919

DNP = cancer cells, destroying the Thai social fabric/body

Cancer is, quite simply, our own cells that have turned so "selfish" that they no longer do their assigned roles (e.g. be a liver cell, be a colon cell, be a lung cell), and instead just start selfishly hogging nutrients, fooling nearby cells into helping them, multiply, and eventually destroy the body. Meaning, kill the person they were supposed to be helping. http://www.mit.edu/~rei/spir-spiritcancer.html

Sociopathic/psychopathic behavior is the cancer of all cultures/societies.

Epidemiologist proves this: http://bit.ly/oAaxSg

From WFFT FB: About 3 years ago, a very well-known Buddhist monk wrote about the "impressive" WFFT and staff. PICS.

http://bit.ly/AmjAqM (Google translated)

Thai speakers: Scroll over text for option to contribute to a better translation.

No search results for this Center. Website is TAN Network/thailandoutlook.tv. Someone said this is Thailand's in-pocket media site.

Unregistered Animals To Be Confiscated From Wildlife Friends Foundation

"The seized animals will be transferred to the Pra Tup Chang Mountain Wildlife Breeding Center and other foundations."

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData...?DataID=1053014

Animals caught in the middle, Opinion

I am writing about the article in Friday's Bangkok Post on the raid on the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) in Phetchaburi's Tha Yang district. This is such a tragic situation and I feel great pity toward the animals. They know nothing about the conflict between the WFFT and the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, but they are the ones who suffer. Both sides should negotiate.

Whenever I see images of animals that have been harmed as a result of this conflict that should never have happened, I feel sorry because of the negative image it creates of Thailand. But mostly I feel sorry for the animals. -- Pawinee Klinsung, Assumption University student

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion...t-in-the-middle

PICS

DNP Continue their Shambolic Confiscations

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1...ent_id=20248751

"This will go down in history as the most prolonged unwarranted public attack on a humane animal rescue sanctuary in the world. It also exposed to the public the vicious and ego centric Department of National Parks, and points directly at their involvement in corruption publicly." -- Sybelle Foxcroft, Conservationist/Author

http://sybellefoxcroft.wordpress.com/2012/...bacle-feb-2012/

This post updated Mar 7.

From WFFT FB, 1 hr ago:

WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN HELP: Continue signing and sharing the petition. New target is 70,000 signatures.

Fundraising - we will need help raising funds to: fight the current legal case; to pay for legal defence; for the safe return of all of our animals; and counter-charge the officials and Director General of DNP for abuse and slander about WFFT and our Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Any Thai supporters who can read and write in both English and Thai - we would hugely appreciate your help in translating many documents to show Thailand who we are, what our history is and what we do. There will be many stories that will need publishing over the coming weeks and months.

For those who cannot help directly, please just continue signing and sharing the petition, spreading the word to friends and family and continue to get in touch with local and international media and press*. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Petition: http://bit.ly/x4Wzcd
Donations: http://bit.ly/zbWZOp
WFFT Resource Center: http://bit.ly/A30GqB
*Write: http://bit.ly/zLurWW
How to Help (link to this post): http://bit.ly/wqrZ14
Post opposition on FB/Twitter: http://bit.ly/yjV3Sw
Contact: info@wfft.org
Peaceful protest:
Mar 2, London: http://on.fb.me/AAOwqP - http://bit.ly/ypywnW
Mar 9, Vancouver: http://bit.ly/x2PGOF

Check out WFFT's dynamite updated look on their website. Info carousel. Super!

http://www.wfft.org/

Pro-WFFT article on Yahoo!

Thai Government Raids Wildlife Rescue Foundation

http://voices.yahoo.com/thai-government-ra...n-11007090.html

Australia is picking up the story NOW. Very hot. Lots of mentions of the elephant exploitation culture in Thailand.

Thai animal haven raided after poaching claim

Mr Wiek says baby elephants are sold to middlemen who torture and tame them before selling them to tourism operators for more than $7000.

He says tourists who visit Thai elephant camps are ''effectively supporting the killing and torture of wild-born elephants''.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conserva...0226-1twcp.html
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/world/thai...0226-1twel.html
http://www.begadistrictnews.com.au/news/wo...ps/2468021.aspx
http://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/news/wor...ps/2468021.aspx
http://www.warrenadvocate.com.au/news/worl...ps/2468021.aspx
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conse...0226-1twcp.html
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environmen...0226-1twcp.html
http://www.donnybrookmail.com.au/news/worl...ps/2468021.aspx

Please write for the safe return of WFFT confiscated animals and against elephant tourism.

List of addresses: http://bit.ly/zLurWW

Tweet from Edwin 10 hrs ago
Today quiet at WFFT, waiting for return of some animals. Reports about raid elsewhere tmr strongly suggest DNP is still at war with NGOs.

See ENP possible Lek arrest:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...ndpost&p=776427

From WFFT FB 5 hrs ago:

Update from today. Confiscated animals returned, 2x common palm civets and 1x mask palm civet. These animals are not a protected species in Thailand therefore we did not need permits to rescue or keep them at WFFT. They were confiscated illegally. They were extremely stressed but are in good health and happily reacquainting themselves with there enclosures and friends. We still need to continue campaigning to bring the other 100 animals back!!! Again thank you for the unbelievable support.

Story has appeared in one Japanese news aggregator site. Japan needs to send letters.