SONGKHLA, 10 February 2015 (NNT) – The Protected Areas Management Office in Songkhla Province has reminded those who possess domestic ivory and ivory-based products to register at Muang District Office by April 21, 2015. Failure to do so will subject the owners to a fine of not exceeding three million baht.
Supot Purdpring, Director of the Protected Areas Management Office 6, said that the registration was prompted by the recently amended Thailand National Ivory Action Plan designed to curb the smuggling of ivory from Africa into Thailand as suggested by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention (CITES). Supot said if failing to follow CITES suggestion by March, Thailand might be banned from CITES market which usually generates at least THB 47,000 million to the Thai economy.
After the registration service is open, ivory owners and traders have continuously queued up to register their products. Those living in Bangkok can register at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation whereas people living in other provinces can contact a nearby Protected Areas Management Office. Alternatively, they can download registration form from www.dnp.go.th and post it to The Post Box 555, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 100900.
Those living in Songkhla, Phatthalung and the three southernmost provinces can call 0-7431-1020 ext. 601 or hotline 1362 around the clock.