BKK POST: Rare bats found along pip

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

February 18, 1998


                                     



                              ENVIRONMENT

              Rare bats found
              along pipeline
              road

              Discovered in cave metres from route

              Kanittha Inchukul

              Rare and endangered bats and crabs have been found along the
              Thai-Burmese pipeline corridor during a recent inspection by
              conservationists.

              Kitti's hog-nosed bats and regal crabs were found in the
              disputed Huay Kha Khaeng forest last week by officials led by
              Saksit Tredech, secretary-general of the Office of Environmental
              Policy and Planning.

              Mr Saksit told the government-appointed panel gathering
              information about the project that the bats, the world's smallest
              mammal species, were in Raipa Cave, just metres from the
              pipeline route.

              Regal crabs, or pu rajini, were in a stream in the Huay Kha
              Khaeng reserve, Mr Saksit said, but the pipeline route in this
              area has been completed.

              The inspection followed an order by the National Environment
              Board earlier this month for all concerned agencies to examine
              the habitat of the endangered bat species along the pipeline route
              and the migration route of wild elephants which has been
              damaged by construction.

              The secretary-general planned to discuss with the Agriculture
              and Co-operatives Ministry the possibility of declaring the area
              where the animals were found an environment protection zone.

              Mr Saksit was not worried these species would fall into
              extinction since the discovery showed they were not endemic
              species found only in Sai Yok national park but also inhabit other
              places.

              Earlier environmental impact assessment studies by the pipeline
              developer failed to mention the rare species even though
              opponents have consistently claimed their existence.

              About 200 people turned up at Chulalongkorn University for the
              fourth day of the hearing, held in an effort to solve conflicts
              between conservationists and the Petroleum Authority of
              Thailand on the 260km pipeline from Ban I-tong, Kanchanaburi
              to Ratchaburi.

              The public information panel chaired by Anand Panyarachun will
              hold a final session today after which it will take three days to
              study the information and come up with recommendations for the
              government.

              Mr Anand, a former premier, and several panel members also
              questioned the project consultant about the quality of the EIA, its
              objectives and process.

              Sirinimitr Wangsuthorn, of Team Consulting Engineer Co, said
              the selected route was the best of three although it would affect
              9km of forest with high diversity of flora and fauna.

              Because of this, the consultant recommended to PTT that
              construction in sensitive areas be done in one dry season to
              minimise the impact on wild animals, especially elephants, which
              cross the pipeline route between markers 22-24 in Huay Kha
              Khaeng.




                                     




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Last Modified: Wed, Feb 18, 1998