Biodiversity
Animals
New regulation lifts ban on export of elephants
Elephants and elephant-related products can again be exported from Thailand under a new regulation from the Commerce Ministry, which may provoke controversy and debate over whether it violates the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).Keep reading ...
Pratch Rujivanarom
Investigation finds Thai wild tigers targeted by foreign professional gangs
New findings from a three-month investigation have revealed that professional gangs were dispatched across Thailand’s borders to target the Kingdom’s wild tigers. Freeland, a Bangkok-based international non-governmental organisation working in Asia on environmental conservation and human rights, on Tuesday congratulated Thai authorities for making this ...
The Nation Reporter
Inside the disturbing world of illegal wildlife trade
A recent report by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature showed that between 1970 and 2014 the vertebrate population declined by an average of 60 percent. While this was mostly due to habitat loss, the illegal trade in wildlife—whether rhino horn, tiger bone, or animals ...
Simon Worrall
SPECIAL REPORT: Wildlife forensics gives a new voice to illegally hunted wildlife
Young wildlife researcher Kanita Ouitavon was shocked when she first saw the number of animal species, many unknown to her, that were up for sale at a local market in the North some years ago, when she had just joined the National Parks Department (DNP).Keep ...
Piyaporn Wongruang
Delay in turtle’s status upgrade threatens marine species with extinction
It may be too late to save leatherback turtles from extinction in Thailand’s seas, as a legal deadlock prevents a conservation status upgrade to protect this critically endangered turtle species and three other rare marine animals.Keep reading ...
Pratch Rujivanarom
Two million stray cats and dogs by 2027 if no action taken to register and sterilise, forum told
Stray dogs and cats must be registered and sterilised, otherwise their population will reach 2 million in 10 years, the Livestock Development Department has warned.The number of stray cats and dogs was estimated at 820,000 last year, and the total will reach 2 million by ...
Kornrawee Panyasuppakun
Thailand taken off ivory trade watch list
Thailand has been removed from an international watch list of eight countries of “primary concern” in the illegal ivory trade. Somkiat Sunthornpitakkul, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation’s Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Division revealed the improved status ...
The Nation Reporter
Thailand: Southeast Asia’s Last Hope for Wildlife?
With wildlife populations in Indochina in rapid decline, Thailand is the last great hope for the region’s natural heritage, particularly for large carnivores such as tigers and leopards. In fact, many donor organizations feel that Thailand has already achieved mid-level development status, making it more ...
Gregory McCann
More than 20 sea turtles killed by debris
Big piles of garbage floating in the sea have become a killing zone for 23 sea turtles, which were found dead or nearly dead on two beaches in Phuket and Phangnga provinces over the past two months, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife ...
Apinya Wipatayotin
Clawing back the tiger population
To mark Global Tiger Day (July 29), lead tiger researchers and advocates come together to address critical threats against tigers as much as means to help conserve them.DESPITE RECEIVING good news that at least 10 to 15 tigers have been found roaming in the Thap ...
Piyaporn Wongruang