26 julho, 2005 - Published 22:36 GMT

Austrália aprova importação de elefantes

The eight elephants destined for zoos in Sydney and Melbourne have been in quarantine in Thailand since last October. After months of deliberation Australia's environment minister, Ian Campbell, has approved their importation and they are due to arrive later this year.

Wildlife campaigners have insisted that scientific evidence has proved that elephants in zoos don't breed well and suffer a wide range of health problems. On top of that, it's claimed they die at a younger age than those living in the wild or kept in parks. Nicola Beynon from the Humane Society International is hoping legal action here in Australia will force the government to reverse its decision:

Nicola Benyon:
"Conservation groups, animal welfare groups in Australia, in Thailand and internationally are exceptionally disappointed with this decision. We think the minister has had to bend the rules of his environment laws to make this decision and we're launching an appeal in the administrative appeals tribunal."

The government in Canberra is allowing these Asian elephants into Australia as part of a conservation programme which it believes will help safeguard the species. The population of these magnificent animals has been decimated over the past century. It's estimated that fewer than 34,000 now remain across a dozen countries.

Phil Mercer, BBC

destined for
destinado a (no caso, os elefantes são destinados a zoológicos).

in quarantine
em quarentena.

After months of deliberation
após meses de deliberação.

breed
procriar.

On top of that
além disso.

exceptionally
excepcionalmente.

launching an appeal
lançar um apelo, um recurso desafiando uma decisão judicial anterior.

safeguard
proteger.

decimated
dizimada.