ID :
447264
Thu, 05/11/2017 - 13:59
Auther :

Thai buffaloes protected

BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) - In response to the endangered wild buffaloes and a remarkable shrink in the number of domestic buffaloes, the Thai government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, is taking serious actions to protect and boost the number of both wild and domestic buffaloes. Thanya Netithammakul, Director-General of the ministry's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, chaired a meeting of parties concerned in Bangkok on Thursday to discuss the planned serious actions in details. According to official statistics, there are only 69 wild buffaloes left in a plain near the southern part of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in the central Uthai Thani Province. Genuine wild buffaloes in Thailand are also facing serious endangered threats of cross-breeding with domestic carabaos, close genetical breeding and their diminishing natural habitats. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is, thus, launching a wildlife genetical bank to protect the genuine wild buffaloes from extinction. The number of domestic buffaloes has been, on the other hand, dwindling over the past decade, from five million to only about 800,000 now. The department has, therefore, set a target to increase the number of the domestic carabaos to one million over the next five years through campaigns on promoting more raising of the water buffaloes among local farmers, especially selected breeders. The serious actions mark the Thai Buffalo Conservation Day, which falls on every May 14. (TNA)

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