War on gibbon exploitation in tourism has started!

On Saturday the 29th of August 2015 Officials of the Department of National Parks (DNP) led by Mr. Suwat Suksiri, head of the Thungthale non-hunting area, arrested two individuals with illegally obtained young gibbons. Both man, Mr Anand Nadee and Mr Bancha Songkhai, had illegally bought the white-handed gibbons from poachers and were exploiting the animals on Koh Phi Phi Island as photo-props for tourist.

Both gibbons were confiscated and both man charged with possession of protected wildlife without permit, punishable up to 40,000 Baht (US$ 1250) and a maximum prison term of 4 years (usually not given on first conviction).

The arrests came only 3 days after a meeting Edwin Wiek, our founder, had with the director-general of the Department of National Parks (DNP) who promised to rapidly enforce the wildlife protection law on the islands and other tourist areas. We hereby thank Dr. Niphon Chotibal, director-general of DNP for his swift action.

We are told that this is just the start of the enforcement and WFFT has pledged help to authorities for future care, cost and facilities.

BEFORE!

AFTER!