Thailand: Rihanna loris pics prompt call for tougher tout penalties

Bangkok Post, 29 Sep 13;

PHUKET: Photos posted online of pop star Rihanna posing with an endangered slow loris on Phuket last week show criminal penalties for wildlife traders are too weak, one of the island's top police officers says.

Kathu district police deputy superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat admitted soft punishments make it almost impossible for officers to stamp out the trade in protected wildlife on the island.

"The punishment is up to the court's consideration. However, it is too soft to stop them," he said.

Touts, who charge money _ usually around 100 baht _ for tourists to take photos with rare animals such as slow lorises and iguanas, are able to resume business almost immediately after being arrested, because the penalties are so weak.

Bangkok Post Sunday visited Soi Bangla, Phuket's main tourist strip, almost a week after Rihanna posted the slow loris pictures, but the wildlife touts seemed to have disappeared. Residents on the island say this is an anomaly, as the touts have been a regular and highly visible attraction on Patong's main tourist strip for many years.

Pol Lt Col Akanit, however, claimed the police response to the Rihanna photos, which included the arrest of two alleged touts, was not a mere publicity stunt. "We normally survey and check for this illegal activity every night, not just because those pictures were posted by Rihanna," he said. "We have erected signs telling people that the loris shows are illegal."

Pol Lt Col Akanit admitted that despite the campaign, there are still some wildlife touts wandering Soi Bangla. He said detecting the animals, particularly lorises, can be difficult as they are small and can easily be hidden from police view.

Petra Osterberg, an experienced volunteer at the Phuket Gibbon Project rehabilitation centre, said Thailand's image as an eco-tourism destination means travellers arrive here expecting to see wildlife. Many are ignorant to the fact that the animals paraded by touts are protected.

"The slow loris is an endangered wild animal," Ms Osterberg said. "They like to stay still at the same place and do not often move. They might attack when they feel uncomfortable, such as when people want to take a picture with them ... and loris bites are highly poisonous."

Ms Osterberg said almost all slow lorises seen in tourist areas have had their teeth removed to nullify this toxic bite.

"Cutting slow loris teeth can affect their nerves, and when they are rescued from traders, they cannot return to the wild as they do not have teeth," she said.

"I hope authorities will enforce the law to protect this endangered wild life before they all become extinct."


Phuket animal worker admits letter to Rihanna is ‘a long shot’
PHUKET: A letter to Rihanna written by a volunteer at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, pleading for the superstar singer to raise awareness about the plight of the loris has gone viral on the internet.
Claire Connell, The Phuket News, 27 Sep 13;

Read the full letter here.

Helen Thompson, a British zoologist and long term volunteer at the Gibbon rescue centre, first published the public “letter” via her Facebook page last week, after Rihanna photographed herself with an endangered slow loris on Bangla Rd while on holiday in Phuket.

The letter, addressed “Dear Rihanna,” outlines the issues surrounding the loris trade on Phuket, including the inhumane treatment they often receive and the fact they often have their teeth cut out or trimmed to prevent them from biting tourists.

“Please help us raise awareness about this problem by speaking out against it and asking your fans not to have their photo taken with exotic animals when abroad,” Ms Thompson wrote in the letter.

“A simple message from you via Facebook or Twitter will reach millions of people who would otherwise be unaware of the nature and severity of this issue.”

There has been no response from Rihanna or her PR team.

Ms Thompson told The Phuket News today she knew the Facebook posting was “a long shot”, however, she thinks there’s a “reasonable chance Rihanna, or at least someone close to her, has or will see it”.

“I sent a copy to Rihanna and her record company every way I could find, for example, through their websites, Facebook and Twitter.

“The letter has also been shared and liked several hundred times via Facebook and Twitter. A drop in the ocean that may be, but it only takes the right person to see it and think, ‘Yes, this is good PR for Rihanna’, and something will happen.

“Social media and the internet have really changed the way communication works, and this kind of campaign can sometimes be effective.”

Ms Thompson said she wrote the letter because she believes it is possible to bring the animal photo trade to an end, “but to do so we need to get the right information through to the right people”.

“Someone like Rihanna has the power to reach millions of people from almost every walk of life.

“If she did openly come out and criticise the trade it would put this issue out into the mainstream media and get the attention of many people who otherwise might not give these kinds of issues a second thought.

“Working at the Gibbon Project, I’ve spoken to so many tourists who are horrified to learn the truth about the trade but who sadly already had their photo taken with an animal because they simply didn’t know any better.

“I’m not naive, I know it’s a long shot, but if it helps to raise peoples awareness of this problem, even just a little, then at least it will have done something.

“As they say, an opportunity missed is an opportunity lost,” she told The Phuket News.


An open letter to Rihanna
Helen Thompson, 23 Sep 13;

Dear Rihanna,

You recently posted some pictures on Instagram from your visit to Thailand last week. One in particular caught my attention, a picture of you with a cute and adorable baby loris on your shoulder. I want to make you aware that the use of wild animals as photo props is an illegal activity in Thailand. It is contributing to the decline of several already endangered species and is responsible for many acts of animal cruelty.

Every year millions of tourists come to Phuket and Patong, many of whom will be given the opportunity to have their photo taken with wildlife, such as the slow loris you encountered on Bangla Road. The invitation to handle one of these exotic animals is very appealing. Their large eyes and fluffy appearance make them irresistible to many people. Sadly, few visitors realise the true cost of their souvenir photograph.

My name is Helen Thompson, I'm a British Zoologist currently working at an animal rescue centre on Phuket that cares for more than fifty primates. Most of these animals were rescued from use in the tourist trade and many suffer from physical and psychological disorders as a result of their prior treatment; photo prop animals are often physically abused, mutilated and drugged to ensure they are safe for tourists to handle.

Much of the work we do involves educating tourists about photo prop animals and the cruelty they commonly endure. For example, few people are aware that the slow loris is venomous, a single bite from which can cause serious infection and even death. Because of this, it is common practice within the photograph and pet trade to cut or pull their canine teeth to prevent them from biting. This is usually done with simple tools such nail clippers or wire cutters and without any form of anaesthetic. Many lorises die as a result of this practice, either due to blood loss or prolonged infection in their teeth and gums.

The name slow loris comes from their iconic behaviour of moving very slowly. Many people find this behaviour endearing but don't release it is actually a response to fear and an indication that the animal is stressed. Most animals used within the photo trade are very young because they are typically docile and more easy to handle. Although they are nocturnal, many are used during the day and will be drugged or physically shaken every few minutes to prevent them from going to sleep. Being continually passed from person to person, along with the ongoing exposure to loud noises and bright flashing lights, is extremely stressful for them and contributes to the death of many of the animals. Most will only survive a few short months.

Sadly law enforcement efforts have had little impact on the photo prop trade here on Phuket because there is a substantial amount of corruption and organised crime in the area. With so many tourists coming to Phuket every year, the trade is certain to continue for as long as visitors are happy to pay for photos with animals.

The act of having a photograph taken with a loris may seem like harmless fun,but in fact it supports an exceptionally cruel trade that results in the needless suffering and death of thousands of these beautiful animals every year. Please help us raise awareness about this problem by speaking out against it and asking your fans not to have their photo taken with exotic animals when abroad. A simple message from you via facebook or twitter will reach millions of people who would otherwise be unaware of the nature and severity of this issue.

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards

Helen Thompson
Volunteer
Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Phuket


Phuket police arrest third loris tout on Bangla Rd after Rihanna photo
PHUKET: A third loris tout was arrested around 1am today (September 25) after police caught him on Bangla Rd – the latest in a series of arrests made by Phuket police in response to singer Rihanna photographing herself with one of the endangered animals on Friday.
Naraporn Tuarob, The Phuket News, 25 Sep 13;


The loris which will be returned to the wild in Thalang.


Pichet Pimrat, 27 years old and in the yellow shirt, faces police.

Pichet Pimrat, 27, was caught with a loris when Pol Lt Col Pongpichan Chayanonpirai, of Kathu Police walked down Bangla Rd while on duty.

“He might have not noticed I was coming. He had one loris with him so we seized it, and we will later send it back to Khao Phra Taew Forest Preserve [in Thalang],” Lt Col Pongpichan Chayanonpirai said.

Pichet’s arrest this morning follows two arrests by officials – a 20-year-old and a 16-year-old – on Saturday night, after officials raided Patong’s Bangla Rd. They leapt into action in response to the photo Rihanna posted on Instagram of herself posing with a loris.

When asked if this latest arrest was part of the raids by police ordered by Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut after Rihanna’s photo made global headlines, Lt Col Pongpichan said, “No. Actually the police go out and patrol the area everyday.”

“I have told my police team to keep a strict eye out for this, but the loris is a small animal. The touts keep the animal in their bag, and on Soi Bangla, there are hundreds of tourists who carry bags and cameras. It is quite hard for us to notice.”

Yesterday, International Animal Rescue Chief Executive Officer Alan Knight told The Phuket News that he was “upset that Rihanna doesn’t know better”.

“I would love to take her around our [slow loris rescue] centre in Indonesia and show her the pain these poor creatures are forced to endure for a few people’s so called pleasure,” he said.


Phuket News: Animal rescue group: 'I'm upset Rihanna doesn't know better'
PHUKET: The CEO of an animal rights group which runs the largest slow loris rescue centre in the world has spoken out, saying he is 'upset Rihanna doesn't know better' and that he would like to show her around the Indonesian rescue centre, 'to show her the pain these poor creatures are forced to endure for a few people's so-called pleasure'.
Claire Connell, The Phuket News, 24 Sep 13;

International Animal Rescue Chief Executive Officer Alan Knight, OBE, spoke to The Phuket News this evening about the issues surrounding Rihanna being photographed holding an endangered slow loris on Bangla Road on Friday night (September 20), while on a visit to Phuket.

The Instagram photo and news surrounding it has gone global, with many people outraged at the popstar's apparent ignorance of the issue of slow lorises and other endangered animals on the streets of Thailand and wider Asia.

Phuket officials leapt into action once news broke, and on Saturday night arrested a 20-year-old and a 16-year-old tout. Police in the past have attempted crackdowns but say the touts are hard to find.

Earlier today, Patong Municipality councillor and president of the Patong Entertainment Business Association Veerawit Kruesombat said crackdowns on Patong’s loris touts and sex shows (which Rihanna also tweeted about) are a “flash in the pan” and will fizzle out within a month.

Mr Knight said he first saw the news of the photo of Rihanna with the loris via Facebook.

"I feel very frustrated when I see people handling wildlife, we should leave animals in the wild.

"I am upset that Rihanna doesn't know better. I would love to take her around our [slow loris rescue] centre in Indonesia and show her the pain these poor creatures are forced to endure for a few people's so called pleasure," he told The Phuket News.

"I really hope that the police in Phuket will enforce the laws of the land and prevent all wildlife trade in the future.

"There is a lot of information about the trade in lorises, we just need to get the information out there.

"To be photographed, this loris would need to have been captured from the wild. Lorises are the only venomous primate. The hunters that take these lorises from the wild cut their teeth using toenail clippers. I have taken a series of photos of this happening (in Indonesia)... so I am against having lorises as pets as the majority are forced to experience pain due to having their teeth cut out."

International Animal Rescue runs the largest slow loris rescue centre in the world, based in Indonesia.

"We study the biology of the wild loris and provide a habitat for them in captivity that is as close to the wild habitat they are used to. This will allow them to be released," Mr Knight said.


Two held over Rihanna loris photo
Bangkok Post, 24 Sep 13;

A man and a teenage boy have been charged with possessing a protected primate after pop star Rihanna posted a picture of herself online cuddling a loris in Phuket, Krathu district chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol says.

The singer posed with the tiny, large-eyed slow loris on a night out in the tourist resort of Phuket on Friday, posting a picture on Twitter and Instagram, apparently without realising that the use of endangered animals as a prop for tourist snaps is illegal.

The image generated outrage from animal lovers concerned about rampant exploitation of animals on the island.

After the Rihanna-with-loris picture went viral, Mr Veera ordered local officials to stake out Soi Bangla in the Patong area where the picture was believed to have been taken.

Watchara Thanapipatkul, 20, from Bangkok, and a 16-year-old, were arrested with two lorises aged between one to two years. Police said they were offering the animals as photo props for tourists.

They were charged with possessing protected animals, Mr Veera said, adding that the lorises have now been taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Thalang district.

Rihanna's tweet on the selfie with the animal seemed to be an attempt at humour.

The star was in Phuket filming a music video. She filed numerous tweets and Instagram updates during her stay, including this one, which caused the controversy.



Rihanna's Twitter 'selfie' with protected primate in Thailand leads to two arrests
Rihanna spent a weekend at the beach in Thailand snapping pictures that led police to arrest two people for allegedly peddling protected primates.
Josie Ensor and agencies, Telegraph.co.uk, 22 Sep 13;


Rihanna snuggled up to a furry primate called a slow loris and tweeted: "Look who was talkin dirty to me!" Photo: Instagram

On a break from her Diamonds World Tour, Rihanna stopped in Thailand to visit the island of Phuket, where she befriended some local wildlife.

She posted a link on Twitter to an Instagram photo that showed her in sunglasses snuggling up to a furry primate called the slow loris, and tweeted Friday: "Look who was talkin dirty to me!"

The slow loris, a squirrel-like animal with big eyes, is native to Southeast Asia and is listed as a protected species.

"Phuket authorities were alerted to the picture (of Rihanna), and last night police arrested the two individuals who brought out the loris as a photo opportunity for tourists," a Phuket district chief, Weera Kerdsirimongkon, said by telephone Sunday.

Police confiscated two lorises from the pair - a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy - who could face charges of possession of protected animals. The charge carries a penalty of up to four years in prison and a 40,000 baht ($1,300) fine.

Weera said authorities have tried for years to crack down on the problem of vendors exploiting wildlife, particularly in popular tourist areas where people pay to pose for pictures with elephants, orangutans and other animals.

"It's like a cat-and-mouse game. But this time it's bigger because a celebrity like Rihanna posted the picture, and there were more than 200,000 'likes' from around the world," he said.

Rihanna also posted pictures of herself playing with a herd of elephants in the street Friday night, after which she tweeted: "They all hail Empress when She walk by."


(Instagram)

On the same night, she tweeted a few unprintable comments about what she apparently witnessed at an adult show in one of Phuket's red-light districts.

Saturday's tweets were devoted to the beach and photographs of the singer in a black bikini on a boat surrounded by turquoise water with limestone cliffs in the distance.

Before leaving Thailand on Sunday, she tweeted from the airport: "Gave the immigration guy my passport and he handed me this in return without a word. Lol." It was a picture of the singer that said "I love Rihanna."

Her next stop was Singapore before heading to Australia and New Zealand.


Two loris touts arrested in Phuket raid ordered by Gov after Rihanna photo
PHUKET: Two loris touts, aged 16 and 20, were arrested in Phuket tonight (September 21) after officials raided Patong's Bangla Road, in response to singer Rihanna posting a photo of herself with an endangered loris.
The Phuket News, 21 Sep 13;


The 20 year old tout, Watchara Pipattanakul, with his loris.

R&B singer Rihanna, who is currently in Phuket, took a photo of herself with a loris while out on Bangla Road and posted it on Instagram yesterday. The photo sparked outrage from many people due to the long-running endeavours by animal welfare groups to keep the animals in the wild and away from tourists.

Lorises are an endangered species and it is illegal for touts to charge tourists money in return for photos with the cute animals. Several touts were arrested in June but despite promises of crackdowns, police say they are unable to track down the touts easily.

Earlier today, Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Kathu Superintendent to 'urgently investigate' the issue of lorises on Bangla Road.

Later this evening, an official order from Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut arrived, and officials were told to complete a raid on Bangla Road. Wildlife Suppression Patrol Officers worked together with police during the raid. This is the first of many planned for the area, officials said.

Two touts were arrested and taken to Kathu Police Station, where they were presented to the media at around 9pm tonight.

Awat Nithikul, the leader of the patrol officers and Senior Forest Academic at Khao Phra Taew Forest Preserve, told The Phuket News, "I had an order from the Phuket Governor to do a raid today after Rihanna posted a photo of her with the loris."

"It is very difficult to do the raids because the touts have spies. If someone hears that the police are coming their way, there will be a person who calls the touts and tells them to move.

"But this is a big deal because it might affect Thailand's reputation."

The two arrested touts are waiting to be bailed, and the two lorises will be returned to a national park in Phang Nga.


Thailand: Furry furore as Rihanna poses with endangered loris
Bangkok Post, 22 Sep 13;

Pop star Rihanna has sparked controversy after posting a photo on the internet of herself holding a protected slow loris, the Bangkok Post reports.

This photo on Rihanna's Instagram feed of her and an endangered loris got wildlife activists in a tizzy.

The US-based Barbadian R&B singer arrived in Phuket last week and has posted several photos on her Instagram account, including ones with the endangered loris and elephants at an unidentified location.

Local wildlife advocates have alerted authorities to the picture of Rihanna with the slow loris, which is sometimes illegally used as a photo prop in tourist areas.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNWPC) has responded by urging residents to help identify where Rihanna was pictured holding the slow loris.

The Phuket News reported on its online edition yesterday that the picture is believed to have been taken on Bangla Road, off Patong Beach in Kathu district.

DNWPC deputy director-general Theerapat Prayurasiddhi yesterday said he would send officials to look into accusations of wildlife abuse if he receives specific information about where animals are being used as photo props.

"Phuket is big. We need more information before we can act," he said.

Mr Theerapat added that some zoos had obtained a licence to possess wild animals for tourist entertainment.

"If [these photos were taken] at a registered zoo with legal permission to keep animals, then we can do nothing," he said.

The slow loris is a small primate with soft fur and large eyes. Its cute appearance makes it popular with tourists visiting Thailand.

All species of slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) are protected by the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) under Appendix I, which bans international trade for commercial purposes.

The Rihanna incident came to light shortly after the Phuket Wan tourism news website reported a group of wildlife activists were raising funds for the establishment of a loris rescue centre on the tourist island to save the cute creatures from being exploited on Bangla Road.

The fund-raising activity was part of the Loris Awareness Week last week.

Kathu district chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol said that he had ordered environmental officials and the Kathu superintendent to "urgently investigate" the issue of lorises on Bangla Road.

Mr Veera also responded to Twitter posts on Rihanna's account referring to bizarre sex shows in Phuket.

Sex shows were completely against the law, Mr Veera was quoted as saying.

"The authorities and law officials have surveyed the area to arrest and fine those involved [in staging sex shows]," he said.

"But the shows still happen."


Phuket chief orders action after Rihanna loris photo
PHUKET: Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol has ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Kathu Superintendent to 'urgently investigate' the issue of lorises on Patong's Bangla Road, after superstar songstress Rihanna was photographed holding one.
The Phuket News, 21 Sep 13;

Rihanna has been sighted on the island at Phuket Fantasea, and posted photos on her Instagram account of her travels. In several photos it looks like she is on Bangla Road - and one photo shows her holding an endangered loris. Rihanna has thousands of followers on Twitter and Instagram, and the loris photo had 220,000 likes by Saturday night.

The photo has sparked outrage from many people due to the long-running issue of protecting the lorises in Thailand, and endeavours by animal welfare groups to keep them in the wild and away from tourists. They are an endangered species and it is illegal for touts to charge tourists money in return for photos with the cute animals. Several touts were arrested in June but despite promises of crackdowns, police say they are unable to track down the touts easily.

Today (September 21) Mr Veera said he had told both the Superintendent and the Ministry to investigate the lorises on Bangla Road again.

"Please investigate and prosecute, as per your authority and duty," he told them.

Also creating reaction were Rihanna's tweets via social networking site Twitter, about her experience at a sex show, including one tweet which said the following: "Either I was **** wasted last night or I saw a Thai woman pull a live bird, 2 turtles, razors, shoot darts and ping pong, all out of her *****"

Other tweets about the sex show followed, with Rihanna saying she was "traumatised".

When The Phuket News called Mr Veera to inform him of these tweets, he said the sex shows were "completely against the law".

"The authorities and officials who are involved with the law have surveyed the area to arrest and fine those involved. But they [the shows] still happen.

"Since I first started in this position I have ordered that officials must be strict and work to control these sex shows. They really ruin Phuket's image."


Rihanna pictured with a loris on Phuket's Bangla Road?
PHUKET: It has been confirmed by Britain's Daily Mail newspaper that superstar songstress Rihanna was indeed in Phuket last week, spending a couple of days on the island before her Diamonds World Tour last night in the Philippines.
The Phuket News, 21 Sep 13;

The 25-year-old posted a number of fun Instagram pics from her night out in Phuket, where the R&B singer was greeted by several species of native animals, The Mail reported.

One of the photos shows Rihanna at Phuket FantaSea, and another appears to show Rihanna with an endangered slow loris - likely on Phuket's Bangla Road.

The slow loris in Phuket has been a long-running issue on Bangla Road, with touts illegally using the endangered animal to solicit money from tourists. While several arrests were made in June, many touts continue to operate, with police saying it is hard to find them because they hide when police show up.

Earlier in the week on Monday (September 16) Facebook fan page Rihanna Thailand posted a picture which seemed to show the Bajan beauty arriving at an airport in Thailand.

It was also stated that she was staying at Sri Panwa in Phuket. However, Sri Panwa have since told The Phuket News that she was not not staying at the property.

Later reports had her booked into a villa at Paresa on the west coast.

Since then Rihanna has posted a number of photos on her Instagram account of her time in Phuket, including many with elephants.

"'They all hail Empress when She walk by,' she tweeted as she got up close and personal with a herd of tame elephants in the street," wrote the Mail.

"The singer appeared to be having a ball in the pictures, that showed her dressed in black pants and a strapless matching top with zipper detail down the back.

"Her dark locks were pulled back into a messy braid, with her face framed by a wispy fringe," gushed the newspaper.

"Large barely tinted sunglasses adorned her face despite it being dark outside and a long gold chain hung around her neck.

"In another snap, RiRi snuggled up to a cute slow loris - a strepsirrhine primate native to South and Southeast Asia.

'"Look who was talkin dirty to me! #Thailand #nightlife,' she captioned the sweet selfie.

"The star also posted a funny shot with her in the foreground and a scantily-clad woman dressed as a possible bride complete with jewelled bikini top and crown alongside a leotard-wearing man - both of whom appear to be yelling at the singer.

"'She was either tryna get married to me, or asking for the rest of my crop over costume! #Thailand #$treetLife,' she explained of the scene."

Rihanna's next gig is in Singapore tomorrow.