BMA eyes funds for 'Chang Yim' project

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will propose to the government long-term solutions to the problem of roaming elephants in the capital in the hope of receiving support for its Chang Yim ('smiling elephant') project, according to Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul.

Chang Yim aims to get elephants off the city’s streets within a year, and get them back to their natural environment, or something almost like their natural environment.

The BMA is targeting mahouts based in Bangkok, who drive the stately beasts through the city to beg for coins and tourist dollars by selling bananas, sugar-cane, and other edibles to feed the pachyderms.

Teerachon said the city administration would meet with Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart to discuss the BMA’s six measures, which it says are sustainable over the long term, to remove the wandering elephants from the metropolis.

Apart from proposing solutions, the BMA officials would also ask the central government for funds to support the project.

The BMA launched the campaign last month and city officials are already claiming to have made progress.

One measure is to publicize information regarding Thailand’s 3,800-plus domesticated elephants so that data regarding the elephants can be stored via microchips inserted under the animals' skin.

The BMA will also cooperate with the Department of Livestock Development, police and national local administration authorities to closely inspect the movement of elephants from their domiciles without travel documents.

Joining with the Labor, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Commerce ministries, City Hall plans to provide job training for mahouts and their families in order to improve their quality of life.

Teerachon said the BMA will also work with the ministry of tourism and sports to promote elephant camps as tourism sites.

Bangkok City Hall has also implemented 'arrest and fine' measures for mahouts who let their elephants roam the city streets. Owners who fail to present elephant identity documents will be jailed by the BMA for 30 days and owners could also face a fine of up to 10,000 baht (US$290).

If the seized elephants are identified as wild elephants, they will be sent to a wildlife-related agency for treatment and care.

In addition, the BMA will ask for related ministries to provide at least 500 million baht (US$14.3 million) to operate and tackle the problem over the long term. - Thai News Agency (TNA).