The government is drafting legislation to protect elephants against cruelty and mistreatment following criticism from an animal rights group.
The proposed law would also designate elephants as the official national symbol and provide regulations for trainers and owners, it said in a statement. Authorities and police would supervise elephant training camps.
"The government attaches great importance to the protection of elephants and to promote their well-being." it said.
Last mouth,the united states-based group people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released a 10-minute video showing people beating bound and caged baby elephants, some of which were bleeding from their ears.
The group demanded the Thailand enact laws to protect elephants against such abuse, and threatened to launch a tourist boycott if it didn't
The government said yesterday the Karen mahout and the injured elephant shown in the PETA video had been placed under the National Elephant Institute, a conservation centre. __ AP