Poaching/ Illegal Hunting in Thailand

Information

Poaching

Poaching is the illegal hunting, fishing or harvesting of wild plants or animals. It may be illegal because:

• The game or fish is not in season, usually the breeding season is declared as the closed season when wildlife species are protected by law.
• The poacher does not possess a license.
• The poacher is illegally selling the animal or animal parts or plant for a profit.
• The animal is being hunted outside of legal hours.
• The hunter used an illegal weapon for that animal.
• The animal or plant is on restricted land.
• The right to hunt this animal is claimed by somebody.
• The means used are illegal (for example, baiting a field while hunting quail, using spotlights to stun or paralyze deer, or hunting from a moving vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft).
• The animal or plant is protected by law or that it has been listed as extinct or an endangered (see for example the Endangered Species Act for the USA)
• The animal or plant has been tagged by a research

Endanger Wildlife in Thailand

White-eyed River Martin

Javan Rhino

Sumatran Rhino

Kouprey or Kouproh

Asiatic or Wild Water Buffalo

Brow-antlered Deer

Schomburgk's Deer

Scrow

Grey Chinese Goral

Black-breasted Pitta

East Sarus Crane

Marbled Cat

Malayan Tapir

Fea's Barking Deer

Dugong

Article

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAILAND'S PROTECTED AREAS

Thailand lies at the crossroads of Indochina and Sundaic zoogeographic regions and so supports an unusual diversity of flora and fauna, including 10% of the world's bird fauna, and possibly the largest
subpopulations of tigers and elephants in Mainland Southeast Asia. Thailand's birds (970 spp) include many endangered species including Gurney's pitta, Chestnut-headed partridge, Crested fireback, Wrinkled hornbill, and White-winged duck. Of the mammals (280 spp), key endangered species include Tiger, Banteng, Asian elephant, Fea's muntjac, Malayan tapir, Clouded leopard, and Kitti's hog-nosed bat. Reptiles (319 spp) include endangered Siamese crocodile, River terrapin, Big-headed turtle, Giant Asiatic softshell turtle, and four species of sea-turtles.

With over 200 fully staffed national parks, sanctuaries and non-hunting areas covering 17% of the country, Thailand has the most comprehensive protected area system in the region and a solid foundation on which to conserve important and diverse refuges for wildlife. Most of the largest and most intact areas lie in remote border areas that in the past were areas of civil unrest and conflict. That people avoided these areas in the past is partly why they are still good areas for wildlife now. Examples of important transboundary forests for wildlife are Balahala, Kaeng Krachan, and the Western Forest Complex.

However, as a consequence of rapid expansion of human populations in the last 50 years, a full 12% of Thailand's vertebrate fauna is now considered threatened or endangered, and their habitats are highly fragmented and dispersed relative to those in neighbouring countries. Examples of fragmented forests are Khao Yai, Phu Khieo and Khao Sok. Considering all of this, a priority for conservation in Thailand is to strive to maintain the integrity of intact areas for wildlife through promoting sustainable land use, tourism and other development practices.

Another priority is to stop wildlife poaching by educating and hiring local people to participate in conservation initiatives. Finally, a long-term goal is to develop the capacity of government staff to understand, monitor and protect wildlife and other natural resources through practical training workshops and on-the-job training. The Thailand government is currently making great progress in this area, teaming up with other government and non-government agencies to develop their staff potential.