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Swiss man to lose elephant foundation

Swiss man to lose elephant foundation


Urs Fehr visits Thalang police station in Phuket on Thursday to pay fines in relation to a road rage incident in December 2023. (Photo supplied)

Phuket authorities will revoke the elephant foundation licence of the Swiss man who allegedly kicked a Thai woman doctor on a beach, after cancelling his gun licences, according to the Phuket governor.

Governor Sophon Suwannarat said on Saturday that investigators suspected that Urs Fehr’s Green Elephant Wildlife foundation was used for illegal purposes and its licence would be revoked.

The governor said that the foundation used the same logo as that of the Mr Fehr’s Green Elephant Sanctuary Park, and Phuket authorities had ordered the people concerned to clarify the operations of the elephant sanctuary and the elephant foundation.

The foundation was originally called Green Elephant and was later renamed Green Elephant Wildlife. The foundation also shared the same address as the elephant park.

The foundation was aimed at helping and treating injured elephants.

The Green Elephant Sanctuary Park holds 14 elephants – 13 rented and the other bought from the northern province of Phrae.

According to its website, the park covers an area of 40,000 square metres and is near Surin beach in Thalang district.

Authorities have already revoked the licences for a pistol and a rifle. The pistol was registered in Mr Fehr’s name and the rifle was registered as the property of the elephant foundation.

Mr Fehr aka David, 45, was temporarily released after being charged with physically and mentally assaulting Dr Thandao Chandam, 26. He allegedly kicked the doctor in the back while she and a friend were sitting near his rented villa beside Yamu beach on Feb 24.

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