RSPCA: Tribunal clears way for zoo to import elephants
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Tribunal clears way for zoo to import elephants
Matt Cunningham
08dec05
MELBOURNE will probably be home to three Asian elephants after a tribunal
decision yesterday cleared the way for their import.
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal ruled that bringing the elephants from
Thailand would not breach any laws, after animal welfare groups appealed
against the planned importation.
The female elephants will make their home at the Melbourne Zoo, where they
will enjoy the surroundings of the zoo's Trail of the Elephants exhibit.
There are already two Asian elephants at the zoo, but none have been
imported since cow Mek Kapah and bull Bong Su came to Melbourne 25 years
ago.
They are now set to be joined by Num-Oi, 4, Dokkoon, 12 and Kulab, 5.
The zoo's new additions are part of a group of eight that could now call
Australia home, with the other five -- four cows and one bull -- bound for
Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo.
The tribunal decision ended a five-month legal battle between animal welfare
groups, the
zoos and the Federal Government.
Environment and Heritage Minister Ian Campbell approved the elephants'
importation in July. But the International Fund for Animal Welfare, RSPCA
and Humane Society International appealed against the decision, saying the
zoos could not meet the elephants' biological and behavioural needs.
The tribunal yesterday ruled in the zoos' favour.
"We have decided that the import licences should probably be granted,
although this will be on a number of conditions and we will need to be
further satisfied by additional evidence," the tribunal ruled.
The zoos now have to prove their facilities are up to scratch before they
get the final stamp of approval.
The Melbourne Zoo's main task will be to prove its mud wallows are
sufficient for the new elephants.
The zoo spent $13.5 million on the Trail of the Elephants enclosure, which
opened in 2003, while Taronga zoo has recently spent $40 million upgrading
its elephant enclosure.
Melbourne Zoo CEO Laura Mumaw said the zoo was confident it could satisfy
the tribunal's requirements.
"We are having a quiet celebration, looking forward to the really big one
when we get the final OK," she said.
The elephants have spent the past 12 months in quarantine in Thailand.
Ms Mumaw said once transport arrangement were made, the elephants would
spend a further three months on the Cocos Islands before arriving in
Melbourne next May.
"We will have a big celebration and we are hoping to invite the Thai
community to welcome them here," she said.
Ms Mumaw said the zoo also hoped to see the elephants breed, with all eyes
on a match between male Bong Su and the oldest import, Dokkoon.
RSPCA spokeswoman Jane Speechley said the tribunal's decision was
disappointing.
But she said more concessions had been gained for the elephants because of
the appeal.