The WWF UK is concerned that Asian Elephants are being smuggled from Myanmar into neighbouring Thailand for elephant trekking tourism, with up to 250 live elephants smuggled out of the country in the last decade.

The species also has to face the threat of extinction through the continued illegal trade in ivory. A survey taken at 14 markets in Myanmar found 9000 pieces of ivory and 16 whole tusks for sale, with retailers generally displayed ivory and other elephant parts quite openly.

This confirms fears of a serious lack of law enforcement and a blatant disregard for international conventions and national laws in Myanmar and neighbouring states. The smuggling of live elephants, ivory and other elephant parts out of Myanmar and into neighbouring China and Thailand is also in contravention of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

Senior Programme Officer, Chris Shepherd, said –

‘Females and juvenile elephants are particularly targeted to supply the demand from the tourism industry in Thailand, where they are put to work in elephant trekking centres. Our research found evidence of corruption allowing the illicit smuggling of ivory and elephants to take place. Anecdotal reports of elephant disappearances, together with the large volume of ivory and elephant parts consistently observed for sale at markets over a period of several years suggests that trade poses a significant threat to the survival of Asian Elephants in Myanmar.’

The WWF UK call on authorities in Myanmar to work closely with enforcement officers in neighbouring Thailand and China to address the illegal trade in live elephants and ivory. Both Thailand and Myanmar are also members of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, a regional network established to promote cross-border collaboration to tackle illegal wildlife trade.

Director of WWF International’s Species Programme, Susan Lieberman, said –

‘Thailand and China must do much more to increase enforcement and crack down on this insidious trade.’

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisiation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme. From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy and would make a fantastic gift for a loved one.