Criminal justice response to wildlife crime in Thailand A Rapid Assessment

Thailand is a country rich in biological diversity, and home to unique and rare species of flora and fauna including the iconic tiger and Asian elephant. In Thailand – as elsewhere – there is a constant battle between conservation and development. Habitat loss, poaching and trafficking, human-wildlife conflict, and domestic use of wildlife has impacted heavily on many of Thailand’s native plant and animal species, including those afforded protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These include high-value timber species such as Dalbergia cochinchinensis commonly known as Siamese Rosewood (Appendix II) and fauna species such as the Indochinese and Malayan Tiger (Appendix I), Leopard (Appendix I), Clouded Leopard (Appendix I), Elephant (Appendix I), Sun Bear (Appendix I) and Sunda Pangolin (Appendix I).

The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the criminal justice system response to wildlife crime, given the role of Thailand as a source, transit and destination for CITES-protected flora and fauna. The research is based on a field visit to Thailand, a review of the available primary and secondary data, and interviews with key interlocutors from the government agencies. Interviews were mainly conducted with key players of the criminal justice system such as prosecutors, police, customs and environment/forestry officials involved in law enforcement. Wherever possible, interviews were conducted at the level of departmental head or deputy.