Felling is biggest threat to wildlife: Poachers just poor locals, say officials
Copyright 2000 Bangkok Post
December 1, 2000
Deforestation and the spread of towns, not poaching or illegal logging, pose the biggest threat to wildlife, according to forestry officials.
Accelerated forest encroachment is causing a rapid loss of wild habitats, thus threatening the survival of many species.
"From my experience in conservation in many national parks, deforestation and urbanisation play the biggest part in the loss of wildlife," Tinnakorn Wutiwicharn, a Chon Buri forestry officer, told a seminar on prevention of poaching, held at Khao Ang Runai wildlife sanctuary in Chachoengsao.
It was prompted by the death of a forest ranger there in a gunfight with poachers, and the discovery of a dead bull elephant whose tusks were removed for illegal sale.
The sanctuary is home to more than 30% of wildlife species found in Thailand, including several rare and endangered animals like the gaur, or wild asian ox, elephants, hornbills, tigers and white-handed gibbons.
Deputy forestry chief Somchai Piensathaporn said the effects, often tragic, of poaching were more sensational than other forms of forest destruction, because they were immediate.
However, the majority of poachers were villagers who did it for a living.
He admitted the department's policy had worsened the plight of wildlife. Its passive conservation approach, concentrating on crackdowns without considering preventive measures, was a losing battle.
"No matter how much we've beefed up our forces, we always loose because the poachers outnumber us," he said. Shortage of funds meant a lack of advanced tracking technology.
Poaching and forest encroachment were often the work of gangs, who shifted their attention elsewhere when the heat came down on them in one area.
"This year we've changed our focus from passive to an aggressive strategy _ educating the community."
"We've found that targeting schoolchildren has worked wonders. The kids love camping in the forest and learning about wildlife and nature through games, trekking and observing animals' behavior," said Mr Somchai.
He also called on the government to provide sound and practical aid measures for the landless and jobless. Although the Forestry Department's statistics have shown better performance in forest protection in recent years, long-term sluggish economy would inevitably drive them to clear land in order to earn higher income.
Preechai Rattanaporn, head of Wildlife Conservation Division, proposed legal amendments to allow breeding of some wild animals in captivity, particularly popular birds.