In return for the animals, Kenya would receive expert elephant trainers and $1 million (1.2 million euros) to boost conservation in the country.
Authorities approved the exports of the 300 animals in July, but government officials said Friday that the animals earmarked for exports "might be reduced" to slightly above 100.
Various well-placed officials gave different versions of the story owing to the secrecy shrouding the whole deal.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare led the criticism.
"(Wildlife) is our national heritage and our views, as conservationists, about such a deal have not been sought," the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Elizabeth Wamba told AFP.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare said it wanted to know what species are being exported and how many.
"Our concern is the animal welfare aspect of this move and in this case the mortality of the wildlife during the capture, the transit and at the destination in Thailand," Wamba said.
Kenya Wildlife Service spokeswoman Connie Maina said she was not informed of the agreement.
Kenya's president and the visiting Thai prime minister said they were committed to strengthening their relationship by expanding trade.
Kibaki invited Thai traders to start manufacturing cheap computers in the East African nation to even out a trade balance that favors Bankgok.
In addition, the two nations signed a deal to establish a joint commission on bilateral cooperation, which will address both the deadly HIV/AIDS virus and the achievement of key development goals.
The Thai prime minister is scheduled to leave Kenya on Thursday for Ankara, Turkey.
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.
