BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand has added three marine mammal species to its protected wildlife list under a new ministerial regulation published in the Royal Gazette. The regulation, signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, designates the humpback whale, Blainville’s beaked whale, and the Risso’s dolphin as protected aquatic wildlife.
Issued under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 2019 with approval from the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Committee, the regulation will take effect 60 days after its publication. The three species are listed as items 22-24 in the marine mammals category of the protected wildlife appendix.
Authorities said the measure was adopted due to threats to the species’ survival, including impacts from fishing activities and capture for display in aquariums or marine exhibition facilities, which could lead to population declines.
Thailand is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Under CITES, the humpback whale is included in Appendix I, while Blainville’s beaked whale and the Risso’s dolphin are listed in Appendix II. The regulation aligns domestic law with international obligations and strengthens protection for these marine species. (NNT)
