While World Wildlife Day is marked globally on March 3rd each year, Thailand observes National Wildlife Protection Day annually on December 26th to highlight the importance of safeguarding wildlife.
This day was first established in 1960, when Thailand passed the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. The observance underscores decades of efforts to protect the country’s precious flora and fauna. The current version of the Act was updated in 2019.
The importance of protecting Thai wildlife
The Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act was established to ensure the preservation, conservation, and management of wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas.
The Act defines “wildlife” as all animals living freely in nature, including their eggs and larvae, and categorizes wildlife into four main groups:
1. Reserved wildlife: Rare or endangered species needing strict protection.
2. Protected wildlife: Species critical to the ecosystem or at risk of decline.
3. Protected wildlife for breeding: Species with economic potential for breeding and sustainable use.
4. Controlled wildlife: Species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or requiring management to preserve wildlife populations.
Great wildlife sanctuaries to visit in Thailand
1. Thai Elephant Conservation Center – Located in Lampang and founded under Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 1993, the center houses over 50 elephants, including 10 royal white elephants. Over the years, the center’s work has expanded to include research, cultural preservation, and educational tourism.
2. Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary – A major attraction for visitors to the popular vacation town of Pattaya, the sanctuary’s mission is “to provide a caring home for elephants where they can live as naturally as possible and are respected by guests.”
3. Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Center – Since the 1950s, the hatchery has nursed sea turtle eggs to support their populations, steadily becoming a fixture of the tourism scene in Chonburi. Widespread interest has helped the center grow over the years into a major base tending to the needs of sea turtles.
4. New Heaven Reef Conservation Program – Located on Koh Tao, Surat Thani, the Conservation Diver Foundation-backed program has nurtured coral reefs for over a decade. Coral reefs are an essential ecosystem for aquatic wildlife such as giant clams and sea horses.