BANGKOK, September 30, 2015 – Today, four new Thai “champions” against wildlife trafficking added their voices to a public campaign to help reduce the demand for wildlife products and put a halt to the illegal trade.

Celebrities supportingthe iTHINK campaign, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking program, include singer/actor Kong-Saharat Sangkapreecha, and actress Noona-Nuengthida Sophon. Also appointed is renowned wildlife veterinarian at the Department of National Parks Dr. Patarapol (Lotter) Maneeorn, and highly respected marine biologist, Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat.

“This campaign marks a big step forward in our efforts to inform the public about the illegal trade in wildlife – one of the most important issues of our time,” said Beth Paige, director of USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia.  “We need to follow the lead of these champions of wildlife. I think we all have to be bold enough to take a stand: we don’t need ivory trinkets and shark fin soup.”

The four celebrities, chosen for their own empathy towards wildlife and their ability to reach a large spectrum of the public, are helping to spread the message – in their own words. Attending today’s launch at Bangkok’s EmQuartier mall were a large number of conservationists and supporters, along with representatives from USAID, Thai Customs, the Airport Authority of Thailand, and the Department of National Parks.

First introduced in 2012, the iTHINK awareness campaign implemented by USAID’s partner Freeland, offers an interactive platform to inform and empower people to say no to endangered wildlife pets. The celebrities messages are clear. “Stop buying ivory products and the killing stops,” Kong said in his public service announcement message about elephant poaching.

Appalled by the cruelty of the illicit wildlife pet trade, Noona explains: “If you knew the truth about wildlife pets, you wouldn’t be buying them.” iTHINK’s first set of campaign celebrities numbered nine in total – from government officials to news reporters and celebrities. Since then, the campaign has been promoted largely by media placement and related activities.

Wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest earner of criminal syndicates around the world, after drugs, arms and human beings, while Thailand is both a transit country and hotspot for wildlife trafficking. One elephant is killed every 15 minutes in the world; three rhinos are killed every day in Asia; and 40 rangers have been killed trying to protect Thailand’s forests since 2009.

See additional photos from the launch event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskme4FDq

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