Thailand is returning nearly 1,000 critically endangered tortoises and lemurs to Madagascar in a significant milestone in the fight against wildlife trafficking. The first group of animals will be sent back on Saturday. This repatriation is the largest of its kind between the two nations, according to Thai authorities. The animals were seized by Thai police in May during an anti-trafficking operation in Chumphon, a province in southern Thailand. A total of 1,117 animals were recovered, though eight had unfortunately died before they could be rescued.
The seized animals included spider tortoises, radiated tortoises, ring-tailed lemurs, and brown lemurs, all of which are classified as some of the world’s most endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These species are in high demand in Asia as exotic pets, but replicating their natural habitat is very challenging, which can endanger their lives. Some of the animals seized in May have unfortunately died due to poor health caused by a lack of food and water during their smuggling to Thailand. Others struggled to adapt to their new surroundings.
On Wednesday, Thai authorities held an official ceremony in Bangkok to return the animals to Madagascan officials. A total of 961 live animals will be repatriated in three separate flights with Qatar Airways, starting on Saturday. Dr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, emphasized that the repatriation highlights the country’s dedication to fighting illegal wildlife trafficking and safeguarding the well-being of seized animals.
Attapol Charoenchansa, Director of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, shared with CNN that he hopes the operation will serve as a deterrent to wildlife trafficking. He explained, “By carrying out operations like this and sharing them internationally, it demonstrates that arrests and repatriations are taking place, raising global awareness that owning these animals is wrong.” He added, “Some people may believe that if they have the money, they can buy and collect these animals, but that is not the case.”
In a statement, the UK-based conservation group Traffic praised the repatriation as “a true testament to the power of international collaboration in tackling the wildlife trafficking crisis.” The group highlighted that illegal trade in timber and wildlife is the second-largest threat to Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, according to a 2023 report. Thailand is the biggest importer of wildlife from Madagascar in Southeast Asia, a region that plays a crucial role in the trade and re-export of some of Madagascar’s most endangered species. The report also noted that between 1975 and 2019, Thailand exported nearly 35,000 animals or their products from Madagascar, either directly or indirectly.
