THAILAND ABOUT WILDAID

ildAid’s mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes by reducing demand Wthrough public awareness campaigns and providing comprehensive marine protection. The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth over $10 billion (USD) per year and has drastically reduced many wildlife populations around the world. Just like the drug trade, law and enforcement efforts have not been able to resolve the problem. Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent protecting animals in the wild, yet virtually nothing is spent on stemming the demand for wildlife parts and products. WildAid is the only organization with a mission focused on reducing the demand for these products, with the strong and simple message: When the buying stops, the killing can too. Via public service announcements and short-form documentary pieces, WildAid partners with Save the Elephants and African Wildlife Foundation to educate consumers and to reduce the demand for ivory products worldwide. Through our highly leveraged pro-bono media distribution EVERY YEAR, UP TO outlets, our message reaches hundreds of millions of people each year in China alone. www.wildaid.org

CONTACT INFORMATION WILDAID 333 Pine Street #300 San Francisco, CA 94104 33,000 ELEPHANTS Tel: 415.834.3174

Christina Vallianos ARE KILLED FOR THEIR IVORY [email protected]

PARTNERS Special thanks Save the Elephants to the following supporters & partners African Wildlife Foundation who have made this work possible: PHOTOGRAPHERS Poulomee Basu Kristian Schmidt Vichan Poti Chris Schmid

COVER PHOTO Chris Schmid

IVORY DEMAND IN THAILAND | wildaid.org/elephants PAGE // 3 wildaid.org/elephants (Chris Schmid) IVORY DEMAND IN THAILAND | Baby elephant staying next to its mother in Etosha National Park, Namibia smuggling of ivory. destinations for illegal African African illegal for destinations aware that Thailand’s ivory aware that Thailand’s ivory and the link between Thailand’s ivory and the link between Thailand’s ivory linked to terrorist groups and and groups terrorist to linked half (49%) are unaware that half (49%) are unaware that is poaching ivory that know behavior by increasing awareness of behavior by increasing awareness of likely to buy ivory products in the the in products to buy ivory likely trade is contributing to the the to contributing is trade ivory and more than 60% do not do not and more than 60% ivory crime. organized international poaching crisis in Africa. Almost Almost Africa. in crisis poaching respondents (96%) say they are not respondents (96%) say they are not reducing Thailand’s ivory trade, just trade is not enough to stop illegal trade is not enough to stop illegal the elephant poaching crisis in Africa the elephant poaching crisis in Africa and highlights and poaching, trade about the public to educate the need future and 93% pledge never to buy. to buy. pledge never 93% and future for changing Thai attitudes and Thailand is one of the main Thailand is one of the main why regulating the existing domestic domestic the existing why regulating Though 93% of Thais support support of Thais 93% Though the potential underlines survey The An overwhelming majority of of An overwhelming majority 42% support banning all ivory trading. ” WCS, 2014. Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African Survey results show less than Survey results show less than crafted into carvings, ornaments and and ornaments carvings, into crafted of Africa’s elephant poaching crisis crisis poaching elephant of Africa’s destroying destroying over 2 tons of confiscated and attitudes towards the ivory and attitudes towards the ivory and control ivory trading and and control ivory trading and half (45%) of Thai residents are are residents half (45%) of Thai legal domesticated ivory. mainland China and Hong Kong mainland China and Hong Kong products, the country’s legal domestic domestic legal the country’s products, possession by passing the new possession by passing the new trade in Thailand. trade in Thailand. to be the main buyers of ivory to be the main buyers of ivory trade has stimulated demand from tourists, especially those from to ending the illegal trade by by to ending the illegal trade ivory consumers, overall awareness awareness overall consumers, ivory in in Africa. Illegal ivory is laundered, ivory in August last year. further demonstrated its dedication its dedication demonstrated further jewelry, and sold in the market as as the market sold in and jewelry, In July 2015, WildAid, African Elephants conducted a poll by TNS Elephant Elephant Ivory Act in 2015 and which perpetuates the poaching crisis which perpetuates the poaching crisis Thailand to understand Thailand’s Thailand’s to understand Thailand Wildlife Wildlife Foundation and Save the While Thai people are not considered While Thai people are not considered Massive loss of forest elephants in Central Africa. 2 .” Proceedings.” of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014. The African forest elephant, elephant, forest African The 1

produced a new class of ivory of ivory class a new produced rowing affluence in Asia has rowing affluence in Asia has elephants Maisels, Strindberg, F., S., et al. “ Wittemyer, G., Northrup, M., Douglas-Hamilton, J. I., et al. “

smuggled from Africa. The Thai smuggled from Africa. The Thai consumers who have reignited consumers who have reignited of forest elephants were poached poached elephants were of forest domesticated Thai elephants, but the but the elephants, Thai domesticated elephants. elephants. decline in its population: in February February in population: its in decline escalating poaching crisis. A study A study crisis. poaching escalating demand and stimulated the illegal the illegal stimulated and demand allows trading of ivory from from of ivory allows trading as both a transit point and destination destination and point transit as both a government took steps to regulate government took steps to regulate between 2002 and 2013, and between 2002 leaving market is fuelled by illegal ivory market is fuelled by illegal ivory markets for ivory consumers, acting markets for ivory consumers, acting

more than 100,000 elephants were more than 100,000 elephants were

SUMMARY EXECUTIVE published in July 2014 found that published in July 2014 found that ivory trade as one of the major trade as one of the major ivory in particular, has suffered a drastic drastic has suffered a in particular, illegally killed in Africa between illegally killed in Africa between ivory trade, resulting in an in an resulting trade, ivory for smuggled ivory. Current Thai law law Thai Current ivory. smuggled for 2. 95% of the forests of the Democratic 95% of the forests of the Democratic 2014, scientists announced that 65% 65% scientists announced that 2014, 2010 and 2012, about 33,630 each each 33,630 about 2012, and 2010 1. Republic of Congo devoid of of of Congo devoid Republic year.

Thailand plays a key role in the global Thailand plays a key role in the global G

PAGE // 2 PAGE // 5 wildaid.org/elephants 6, 7 6,

5 IVORY DEMAND IN THAILAND | The African forest elephant in elephant in forest African The 4 sales of ivory from natural mortality, from natural mortality, sales of ivory culls and seizures. The first one-off with ivory from sale occurred in 1999, sold exclusively to Japan. In 2008, a South included sale to Japan second continue to steadily worsen. A study continue to steadily worsen. A study scientists announced that 65% of forest devoid of elephants. elephants were poached between 2002 and 2013, leaving 95% of the forests ofand 2013, leaving 95% of the forests and 2012 – a staggering ~33,630 each ~33,630 staggering – a 2012 and more than 100,000 elephants were were elephants 100,000 than more particular has suffered a drastic decline drastic a suffered has particular published in July 2014 found that published that in July 2014 found to purchase 62 tons of ivory. the Democratic Republic of Congo the Democratic Republic of Congo the impacts on elephant populations the impacts on elephant populations in in West, Central and East Africa, and illegally killed in Africa between 2010 in its population: In February 2014, In addition, CITES allowed "one-off"’ Botswana, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe year. Africa’s stockpile and allowed China China allowed and stockpile Africa’s

3 ” International Fund ” WCS, 2014. ” www.traffic.org, 2012.

” Time Magazine Online, 2010. Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African success: Ivory prices were drastically cut, almost eliminating in markets enabled large-scale laundering of of laundering large-scale enabled but 1989, in trade ivory elephant to be continued sales ivory domestic and Africa increased. Economies grew grew Economies increased. Africa and and created a new class of potential abuse, and African elephant abuse, and African elephant greatly reduced, and elephant elephant and reduced, greatly CITES CITES banned the international legal in some countries. The The some countries. legal in have increased poaching dramatically dramatically poaching increased have million to roughly 600,000 by 1989. by 1989. million to roughly 600,000 populations started to recover. populations started to recover. populations fell from more than 1.2 populations fell from more1.2 than rapidly in countries including China rapidly in countries including China the U.S. and Europe. Poaching was to as the “Ivory Wars,” at least throughout Africa as legal trade international ban initially was a huge international ban initially was a huge ivory consumers. Expanding markets ivory from poached elephants. 2008 as business ties between Asia Asia ties between as business 2008 700,000 elephants were slaughtered In response to this poaching epidemic, epidemic, poaching this to response In During the 1980s, a decade referred During the a 1980s, decade referred However, new markets emerged by However, new markets emerged by Making a Killing: A 2011 Survey of Ivory Markets in China. Massive loss of forest elephants in Central Africa. African Nations Move to ‘Downlist’ the Elephant. ” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014. lephants are primarily poached lephants are primarily poached for their ivory, which comes from for their ivory, which comes from Experts report highest elephant poaching and ivory smuggling rates in a decade. elephants. for Animal Welfare, 2012. Gabriel, G. G., Hua, N., and Wang, “ J. Maisels, Strindberg, F., S., et al. “ Walsh, Bryan. “ Wittemyer, G., Northrup, M., Douglas-Hamilton,J. I., et al. “ “

system was subject to wide- spread subject to wide- spread was system chopsticks and other crafts. While the the While and other crafts. chopsticks ornaments, jewelry, trinkets, ornaments, jewelry, trinkets, elephant population was elephant population was trade, limit and to control designed elephants, and is used for carvings, carvings, used for is and elephants, Convention on International Trade in in Trade International on Convention listed under Appendix II of the UN listed on CITES Appendix I, 6. THREATS TO ELEPHANTS prohibiting international trade. trade. international prohibiting use of ivory dates back hundreds of of hundreds dates back use of ivory scale in industrial an on processed recent decades, East Asia. Asia. East decades, recent the tusks of all African and male Asian in the last century to supply markets the United States, Europe, and in 7. 5. 700,000, while the estimated Asian 3. In In 1976, the African elephant was In 2007, African elephant populations populations elephant African 2007, In Endangered Endangered Species (CITES), 30,000-50,000. 30,000-50,000. while in 1975 the Asian elephant was were estimated to be 500,000- However, However, the CITES regulatory years, scientists believe ivory has been has been ivory scientists believe years, 4. E Ivory stockpile, Kenya, 2012 (Kristian Schmidt)

PAGE // 4 PAGE // 7 wildaid.org/elephants IVORY DEMAND IN THAILAND | BOUGHT IVORY IN THE LAST 3 YEARS 3 LAST Of those who own ivory, only 7% 7% OF THE 3%

OWN IVORY OWN said they bought it in the last 3 years. Just 3% of the respondents reported owning ivory products. Just 3% of the respondents reported and Save the Elephants commissioned a survey conducted by TNS Thailand of 1,000 n August 2015, WildAid and its conservation partners African Wildlife Foundation

SURVEY KEY FINDINGS 3% 2015 SURVEY THAILAND 1. Thai residents to better understand Thailand’s ivory consumers, overall awareness of Thai residents better to understand Thailand’s ivory consumers, overall awareness of Africa’s elephant poaching crisis and attitudes towards ivory trading in Thailand. Africa’s elephant poaching crisis and I commitments to phase out the ivory commitments to phase out the ivory shown that legalsales only serve ivory sales. The report “Illusion of Control” of this kind - to show its determinationof this kind enough. Hong Kong’s history has history has Hong Kong’s enough. despite the government’s insistence and and Save The Elephants highlights government’s permit system. groups recognize the considerable considerable the recognize groups ban all ivory trading in the country. CITES and international conservation launder massive amounts of illegal launder massive amounts of illegal how the legal ivory trade was used to how the legal ivory trade was used to multiple loopholes in the Hong Kong multiple loopholes in the Hong Kong mechanisms in place to regulate ivory ivory regulate to place in mechanisms progress Thailand has made over the progress Thailand has made over the it may not be but fear that past year, released in September 2015 by releasedin September 2015 by trade, we call on the Thai government government we call on the Thai trade, to reconsider its stance to gradually to crackdown on the illegal trade. ivory illegal trade, for cover a to provide that they have strict control ivory. Ivory traders and buyers abused buyers and traders Ivory ivory. Kong recently pledged landmark Kong recently pledged landmark As China, the United States and Hong Hong and States the United China, As WildAid, WildAid, African Wildlife Foundation (Photo by Vichan Poti/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) An official checks for fingerprints and DNA on smuggled elephant tusks. species in Thailand. The changes The changes species in Thailand. seizures of ivory originating from sourced from domesticated Asian sourced from domesticated Asian or possession of African elephant ivory of up to years four imprisonment. of the 5-point action plan aimed at at of the 5-point action plan aimed Subsequently, over 220 tons of ivory of ivory over 220 tons Subsequently, destroyed over 2 tons of confiscated destroyed over 2 tons of confiscated elephants). The new law requires ivory ivory law requires new The elephants). kilograms. The latest seizure in April April in latest seizure The kilograms. has been registered. making African elephants a protected making African elephants a protected regulating the legal market ivory (ivory traders and ivory owners to register to register owners ivory and traders their stocks with authorities. Animals to the existing Wild ivory – the country’s first destruction impose new penalties for illegal trade impose new penalties for illegal trade ivory seizures last year: Since October 2015, Thai customs has made four customs has made four Thai 2015, was more than 300 kilograms. 2016 In In August 2015, the Thai government Reservation and Protection Act, Act, Protection and Reservation Thailand made several major illegal illegal major made several Thailand The country also made an amendment Africa, totaling more than 800 Africa, totaling more than 800

be one of the largest and most be one of the largest and most hailand’s ivory market is known to market is known hailand’s ivory

concern” countries that are most most that are countries concern” domesticated Thai elephants. The domesticated Thai elephants. The as a significant destination and transit and destination significant a as allows trading of ivory from allows trading of ivory from heavily implicated in the illegal ivory ivory the illegal in implicated heavily markets and help combat the illegal markets and help combat the illegal

market is also fuelled by illegal, “newly illegal, by fuelled also is market IVORY TRADE THAILAND IN passed the Elephant Ivory Act as part point for this ivory, Thailand plays a plays a Thailand point for this ivory, poaching crisis. poached” laundered ivory from Africa: revised revised National Ivory Action Plan in role in facilitating Africa’s current role in facilitating Africa’s current trade sanctions, Thailand submitted a Thailand submitted a trade sanctions, trade, and the country is thus required to develop a National Ivory Action thriving in the world as local law law local as world the in thriving ivory trade. 2014. The following year, Thailand 2014. The following year, Thailand In response to threats of international Fauna and Flora (CITES) designated Plan to strengthen controls of the ivory Thailand Thailand as one of the 8 “primary The The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild T

PAGE // 6 PAGE // 9 wildaid.org/elephants (ThairathTV) IVORY DEMAND IN THAILAND | Jewelry and trinkets from an ivory shop in Nakornsawan Province DON'T INTEND TO BUY IVORY AWARE OF POACHING CRISIS IN AFRICA 52% 96% Some thought the ivory comes from Some thought the ivory FROM ILLEGAL SOURCES 60% FROM THAILAND FROM 48% BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL AND LEGAL BOTH 30-59 FROM AFRICA FROM 37% YEAR OLDS DOMESTICATED THAI ELEPHANTS THAI DOMESTICATED 30% ELEPHANTS THAT DIED NATURALLY DIED THAT ELEPHANTS DON'T KNOW 23% 19% 19% 18-29 YEAR OLDS 96% of respondents said they do not intend to buy ivory products in the future. ivory products to buy not intend they do said of respondents 96% said both illegal and legal channels. domesticated Thai elephants (23%) or elephants that died naturally (19%), while 19% said they did not know. (19%), while 19% said they did not (23%) or elephants that died naturally domesticated Thai elephants 48% believe ivory sold in Thailand comes from wild elephants poached in Thailand while poached in Thailand while sold in Thailand comes from wild elephants 48% believe ivory (62-63%) among the 18-29 year old age group - compared to 41-44% for 30-59 year old age group. (62-63%) among the 18-29 year old age group - compared to 41-44% for Just 52% of respondents are aware of the elephant poaching crisis in Africa, with a higher proportion Just 52% of respondents are aware of the elephant poaching crisis in Africa, 60% of Thais believe ivory sold in the local market comes from illegal sources, while 37% 60% of Thais believe ivory sold in the 30% think it comes from poached wild elephants in Africa. from poached wild elephants in Africa. 30% think it comes

2. 3. 5. 4.

PAGE // 8 PAGE // 11 wildaid.org/elephants (Poulomee Basu) (Poulomee IVORY DEMAND IN THAILAND | African elephants, Amboseli National Park, Kenya SUPPORT THE IVORY TRADE AND PRODUCTS PLEDGE NEVER TO BUY IVORY 93% 93% SUPPORT HIGHER PENALTIES 62% SUPPORT A BAN ON ALL IVORY TRADING 42% June 29 - July 2015 , 17 1,000 respondents nationwide Thailand 1,000 Raw data was rim weighted based on 2014 figures from the Full range Face-to-Face interview 18 years 18 and older Sample Size:Sample Type: Age: Income: Fieldwork period: Weighted: Thailand Census and Statistics Department

93% support reducing the trade of ivory and ivory products in Thailand. the trade of ivory and ivory products 93% support reducing 93% of respondents pledge never to buy ivory or ivory products. 93% of respondents pledge never to while 42% support a ban on all ivory trading. on all a ban 42% support while To stop ivory smuggling, 62% support higher penalties for smugglers, smugglers, for penalties higher 62% support smuggling, ivory To stop 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

9. 10. 11. SELLING SELLING POACHING SUPPORTS NOT AWARE BUYING AND UNAWARE OF THE LINK TO TERRORISM 61% CRIME ORGANIZED AND supporting poaching crisis in Africa. poaching crisis supporting and selling ivory products in Thailand are are in Thailand products ivory and selling 55% of respondents are not aware that buying that buying not aware are of respondents 55%

55% 7. A MAIN NOT AWARE THAILAND IS IS THAILAND DESTINATION

A significant 61% are not aware that poaching elephant for ivory in Africa is linked to A significant 61% are not aware that 49% are not aware that Thailand is one is one Thailand that are not aware 49% of the main destinations for illegal ivory ivory for illegal main destinations of the coming from Africa. coming from terrorist trade and international organized crime. terrorist trade and international organized

49% 8. 6.

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