BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand has removed the red-whiskered bulbul from its protected wildlife list, allowing the birds to be legally raised, bred, bought, and sold under applicable regulations. The change took effect on September 1 following the publication of the ministerial regulation in the Royal Gazette on August 31, opening opportunities for legal breeding and income generation, especially in southern Thailand.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin recently detailed three measures governing the species following the regulatory change. Authorities will continue protecting wild populations in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, national reserved forests, and non-hunting areas through patrols, checkpoints, surveillance, and enforcement against illegal capture and wildlife trafficking.
Outside conservation areas, authorities will work with bird-keeping associations and networks to survey and register birds, regulate their movement, and improve animal welfare. Breeding farms will also be registered, while individual identification systems, a nationwide database of bird keepers, and standardized breeding and care practices will support the development of a regulated commercial breeding sector.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to monitor wild red-whiskered bulbul populations to prevent legal breeding from becoming a channel for illegal capture from their natural habitats. If unlawful trapping is found to be harming wild populations, authorities could introduce additional controls or propose returning the species to Thailand’s protected wildlife list. (NNT)
