Park officials score award for graft fight
TEAM ‘LIFTS MORALE’ AMONG STAFF
>> A team of officials at Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary have won an award from the ministry of natural resources and environment for outstanding performance in fighting against corruption.
The annual award known as “Diamond Brilliant” was given by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for outstanding environmental protection performances.
Twenty-four awards are given to officials who have shown impressive performances. The ministry said the team of officials at Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province, had shown strong determination to fight against corruption, which set good examples and boosted the morale of other officials.
Officials at Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary became famous for the determination and integrity they showed in dealing with the poaching case against construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and three others. Mr Premchai was later charged with bribery on top of the charge of illegal wildlife hunting.
Some officials were given individual awards for their impressive performances. Among them was Sarayut Tanthien, currently chief of Phangnga National Park. Mr Sarayut was known for launching waste management at Mo Koh Phi Phi. He received praise for making Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi province as the highest revenue generating park after he improved the park entry fee collecting system.
Meanwhile, activist Srisuwan Janya issued a statement condemning the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) for stating damage done to the park was only three million baht.
Mr Srisuwan said the compensation was too low.
Last week the DNP billed Mr Premchai and three other suspects about 3 million baht as compensation for the dead animals which they were accused of killing.
He said the black leopard is the rare wildlife species protected by Cites Appendix I. The Indochinese leopard usually has brown skin. But the one shot dead and found at Mr Premchai and the other suspects’ camp site had pure black skin caused by mutation. The species, native to Southeast Asia, is also on the verge of extinction, It is estimated only 2,500 remain.
Mr Srisuwan said the actual cost of this leopard could be much higher. He cited that 500 million baht was spent for acquiring a pair of new-born Indochinese leopards under the collaboration project between Thailand’s Zoological Park Organisation (ZPO) and the US authority.
Mr Srisuwan asked the DNP to review the compensation price and suggested the reasonable should rank between 300-500 million baht.
If the DNP failed to revise the compensation, he said he would take legal action against the department.