Country Report of Thailand

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• Country Report of Thailand
• CITES Asian Snake Trade Workshop
• By
• Mr. Suraphong Chaweepak
• Mrs. Srifa La-ong
• Mrs. Nilubon Khanha
• Introduction
• ? Thailand has a large number of snake species
  (175 spp.)
• ? Some snakes species are found in all areas of
  the country.
• ? 62 species non venomous.
• ? 50 species mildly venomous.
• ? 56 species very venomous.
• ? 7 species insufficient data to classify.
• ? Causes of decline of snake populations are
• Destruction of natural habitat.
• The snake trade.

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Biology and Conservation

• Habitat
• ? Snakes live in any geographic environment
  identify as terrestrial,
• arboreal, semi-aquatic, aquatic or marine.
• Food
• ? Many kinds of food of snake are Rats, Toads
  ,Frogs, Skinks, Fishes,
• Insects, Bats, Birds, Bird Eggs, etc.
• Status of wild population of snakes in Thailand
• ? Most of them are least concern. 21 spp. for
  N.T., 14 spp. for Endemic.
• Distribution
• ? Every Part of Thailand, including the
  surrounding seas.
• Research Programmes
• ? The Identification of Snakes Skins in Leather
  Industry of Thailand.
• ? Field Assessment of Cobra (Naja spp.)
  Exploitation in Thailand.
• ? Demography of the Monocled Cobra in the
  Central Region of Thailand.
• Main Threats
• ? Depletion of Ecosystem (including of Habitat
  losses).
• ? Overexploitation
• ? Illegal wildlife trafficking.

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Legal, management and enforcement

• Legislation
• ? The First Act of Wildlife since 1960.
• ? Now, Wild Animal Reservation and Protection
  Act in 1992.
• ? Thailand has complied with the CITES to
  ensure of sustainable use.
• Therefore, CITES M.A. of Thailand are
  conscious and recognizing of
• CITES snake trades. To control, manage and
  enforce of snake trades,
• we have to comply and fulfill the domestic and
  international laws.
• Policies
• ? The Thai cabinets resolution in October
  9,1990 to suspend the
• exportation of live snake to abroad to keep
  balance of the nature.
• ? The exception is for finished skins, carcass
  and products can be
• exported.
• ? In situ gene conservation and Ex situ
  gene conservation.
• Trade controls and enforcement
• ? CITES M.A. of Thailand controls snake trade
  by permitting system.
• ? Prescribed quotas for some snake species
  cobra (Naja kaouthia).
• ? Collaborate with S.A. ,Police, Customs, AOT,
  NGOs, and other org.
• ? 36 Wildlife check points have been
  established.

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• 23 June 2008 at Suvarnnabhumi International
  Airport

Wildlife Law Enforcement
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Trade and Market Key species and commodities
traded. (CITES)

• (1) Russels Viper (Vipera russelii)
• ? Finished Skins 5,127 pcs.
• ? Products 9 pcs.
• (2) Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
• ? Finished Skins 1,294 pcs.
• ? Products 4,658 pcs.
• (3) Asiatic Rock Python (Python molurus
  bivittatus)
• ? Finished Skins 1,602 pcs.
• ? Products 140 pcs.
• (4) Common Salt Water Snake (Cerberus rhynchops)
• ? Finished Skins 960 pcs.
• ? Products 12 pcs.
• (5) Cobra (Naja kaouthia)
• ? Finished Skins 800 pcs.
• ? Products 103 pcs.
• (6) Python reticulates Python molurus
  bivittatus
• ? Products 120 pcs.
• ? Control measure and management programs for
  harvesting specimens.
• ? Control Quotas for cobra (Naja kaouthia)

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• Examples of good practice in ensuring legal,
• sustainable trade
• ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN - WEN)
• ? For the association of Southeast Asian
  Nations. Established in year 2005. It is the
  world largest wildlife law enforcement network.
  To promote network among law enforcement
  authorities in ASEAN countries for curbing
  illegal trade in wild fauna and flora in the
  region.
• Wildlife Trade Regulation Course (WTRC)
• ? Southeast Asia is a global hotspot (high
  biodiversity).
• ? Well established for smuggling routes and
  accessible transport links.
• ? Thailand WEN has been directed at building
  capacity through training of enforcement
  officers.
• Other relevant topic
• The Thai people and Their Snakes
• ? The attitudes are unable to distinguish spp.,
  then may kill a snake.
• The king Cobra Snakes Village (Snake for
  ecotourism)
• ? Located in Northeast of Thailand, Since year
  1950, In year 1993, they decided to change the
  species from cobra to king cobra.
• ? They develop the activity of man fighting with
  the snake.

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Thank you ??