Africans want to build Phuket animal attraction opponents say is front for smugling

A row is brewing between developers and animal-rights activists over the building of Asia's first primate sanctuary off Phuket.

Opponents say Monkey Island will only fuel the illegal trade in endangered species.

But the government's Zoological Park Organisation thinks the tourist attraction is a great idea.

Zoo department boss Sopon Damnui says the island will become home to all species of rare and endangered monkeys and apes.

They'll live in a totally natural environment.

Tourists can visit by boat, only.

The zoo bureaucrats think the island will attract hundreds of thousands every year.

It will canvass local opinion and conduct an environmental-impact assessment before saying yes or no to the idea.

Wildlife and environment expert Surapol Duangkhae says the idea of Monkey Island has been kicking around for about 12 months now.

Local environmental and animal-rights groups have been scrabbling around for information.

He promises loud opposition if the government gives the island the green light.

Phuket, he says, is already attracting millions of tourists and it doesn't need an ugly gimmick like Monkey Island.

He says the island will attract few tourists and they'll probably be niche groups.

He suspects the island will be the centre of the illegal trade in rare and endangered species, too.

The activists claim the island's financiers are already trading in wildlife.

If they have their own legal zoo to mask their business, it will only exacerbate the trade and give them a place to "display" their products to customers.

A source tells Daily Xpress that Monkey Island primate sanctuary - the first of its kind in Asia - is the brainchild of a South African investment company called Primate Resorts.

The source reveals the company will build the sanctuary on either Koh Aeo or Koh Thanan in Phuket.

Primate Resorts has already built similar zoos in South Africa where it cooperates with the Monkeys' Friend Foundation.

The foundation has saved hundreds of monkeys and 15 species from extinction.