"We are urging our government to take into consideration values other than monetary compensation, as the latter is incidental when it comes to our natural resources," said James Isiche, the regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
The conservationists said Kenya's justification that it had abundant wildlife was flatly wrong.
"The reality is that wildlife populations in Kenya today are generally on the decline due to threats arising from poaching, habitat loss and land use changes," Isiche added.
They added that Kenya would be setting a bad precedent by exporting its wildlife, a move which may fray the East African nation's key tourism sector, which has suffered in the recent years owing to terrorism activities.
"By shipping wildlife to Thailand, Kenya will be setting a dangerous precedent that may result in other requests for similar gifts from other states," according to a statement released by conservationists.
"It is also self defeatist in that Kenya is currently promoting tourism in Asia while by giving wildlife to Thailand may discourage tourists from the Asian continent from setting foot in this country," the statement added.
In addition to meeting Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Thaksin will also go on safari in the world famous Maasai Mara on Wednesday afternoon and return to the capital for an official banquet.
Thaksin is scheduled to leave Thursday for Ankara, where he will visit the Union of Chamber and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. He will meet President Ahmet Necdet Sezer followed by a wreath laying ceremony at Ataturk monument.
Thaksin will also hold a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The two countries are to sign three agreements on tourism, science and technology and a cultural exchange program.
Name: African Elephant (
Loxodonta africana)
Primary Classification: Proboscidea (Elephants)
Location: Africa
Habitat: Wide range, including desert, scrub, savanna and high rainforest
Diet: Bark, fruit, grass and leaves
Size: Up to 16 ft in length, 13 ft in height, and 11 tons in weight
Description: Gray, sparsely haired skin; large ears, which aid in temperature regulation; long, forward-curving ivory tusks, used for fighting, digging and eating; long, muscular trunk with two finger-like projections at the tip
Cool Facts: It is the largest land mammal on Earth. It takes care of weak and injured pack members and grieves over dead companions. It has a particular fascination with the tusks and bones of dead elephants.
Conservation Status: Endangered
Major Threat: Poaching
What Can I Do?: Visit
Save the Elephants, the
African Wildlife Foundation, and the
Living With Elephants Foundation for information on how you can help endangered elephants.
