Each 3 March is celebrated as United Nations World Wildlife Day.

The Thammasat University Library owns many books about wildlife in general and specifically about wildlife in the Kingdom.

The United Nations International Day website reminds us of the incalculable value of wildlife:

The animals and plants that live in the wild have an intrinsic value and contributes to the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic aspects of human well-being and sustainable development.

World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people. At the same time, the Day reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts. Given these various negative effects, Sustainable Development Goal #15 focuses on halting biodiversity loss.

Life Below Water: For people and planet

Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG14) aims to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.” The theme of World Wildlife Day 2019 is: “Life Below Water: For people and planet” which closely aligns with this goal, with a specific focus on the conservation and sustainable use of marine wildlife.

The ocean contains nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may be in the millions. Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Marine wildlife has sustained human civilization and development for millennia, from providing food and nourishment, to material for handicraft and construction. It has also enriched our lives culturally, spiritually, and recreationally in different ways.

The capacity of life below water to provide these services is severely impacted, as our planet’s oceans and the species that live within it are under assault from an onslaught of threats. These include the most significant and direct threat of overexploitation particularly unsustainable fishing and other marine species extraction practices but also important threats such as climate change, marine pollution and habitat destruction. These threats have a strong impact on the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on marine ecosystem services, particularly women and men in coastal communities.

Get involved

Get to know marine species and learn about the challenges they are facing and how you can help. Share what you’ve learned with your friends and family.

Spread the word, especially to children and youth. They are the future leaders of wildlife conservation and they deserve a future where we humans live in harmony with wildlife that share the planet with us. Here are some outreach materials.

Post on social media and spread the word. Have a look at our Social Media Kit if you need some inspirations. Or take a photo with the action cards and say something about the day. Remember to use the hashtags #LifeBelowWater, #WWD2019, #MarineSpecies #DoOneThingToday #SDG14.

Thailand and wildlife

Some TU students may be familiar with Wildlife Thailand, a community website for sharing information, photographs and experiences on Thailand’s wildlife, nature and protected areas in order to help everyone have the opportunity to explore Thailand’s outstanding wildlife and National Parks…

It serves as a central point for naturalists, conservationists, photographers, birders, herpetologists, trail walkers, botanists, nature lovers and generally anyone interested in Thailand’s rich natural resources. To share their questions, experiences and insights in order to help promote awareness of Thailand’s amazing fauna & flora and national parks. It was devised to fill a void due to the lack of such a site in the English language in Thailand…

Dedicated conservationists in the TU community will also be familiar with The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) a registered foundation under Thai law, Foundation No: T271/2545. According to its website, its main objectives are to

• Rescue maltreated and/or neglected wild animals
• Provide sanctuary for sick and disabled animals
• Rehabilitate and Release where possible and care for those who are unable to be returned to the wild
• Educate people, particularly children, to stop cruelty to animals
• Campaign against illegal trade in wild animals, discourage use of animals for entertainment
• Prevent hunting and promote conservation of all natural resources, fauna and flora alike.
• Cooperate with and assist Royal Forestry Department and other organizations with the rescue and conservation of wild animals.
• Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand operate several projects; Willdlife Rescue Centre, Elephant Refuge and Education Centre, Wildlife Hospital, Forest Restoration and Conservation, Gibbon Release and Rehabilitation, Wildlife Tourism Campaign, Street Elephant Campaign and Volunteer Opportunities and education facilities in Thailand and Laos.
• The Wildlife Rescue Centre is built on temple land; the abbot of the Kao Look Chang temple has generously given us a huge plot of forest for the animals to live in.

WFFT also explains the purpose of its organization:

In Thailand, like in every country in the world, animals are abused and exploited for profit and human gratification. There are many examples of animal exploitation within the tourist industry, for example, photo animals, animals performing in degrading shows, and elephant camps. There is still a thriving illegal trade in wild animals for pets and medicine.

The major goals of our organisation are:

• To rescue captive wild animals and rehabilitate them as far as is feasible, allowing them to live the rest of their lives in a safe environment, as close to nature as possible and providing them with the best care possible.

• To campaign against all forms of animal abuse and exploitation in Thailand, work towards ending the illegal pet trade and discourage people from keeping all wild animals as pets. WFFT actively seeks to combat the illegal wildlife trade and to rescue animals from poor conditions or exploitation from human entertainment.
• To provide veterinary assistance to any sick or injured animal; wild or domestic.
• To educate and encourage local people (especially children), tourists and the international community to appreciate, understand and protect wildlife and their natural habitats through our education program. One of the most significant aspects of wildlife conservation is the education of local communities and raising awareness among tourists, who often inadvertently create a big demand for the exploitation of wildlife. WFFT wishes to make people understand the consequences of their actions and aims to persuade them to change their habits and attitudes towards life (If the buying stops the killing will too). This is a long and arduous process and requires a holistic approach to education. Tours are given regularly to western tourists at the rescue center with the aim of raising awareness for the plight of the animals in promoting “responsible eco-tourism”.
• To assist in and develop new projects involved in the protection, rehabilitation, humane captive environments, and welfare of all wild animals.
• To rehabilitate captive wild animals and release them back into the wild, repopulating forest areas in which they are already endangered or extinct.

WFFT was founded in 2001 by Edwin Wiek, a Dutch national who also founded People and Animals Thailand (PAT).

As its website notes, the purpose of PAT is

Improving Animal Welfare

People And Animals Thailand (PAT) is the latest initiative of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand.

Located between Hua Hin and Cha Am the new clinic was set up specifically to help deal with the overpopulation of street cats and dogs in the area…

The PAT clinic offers volunteer vet and non veterinary programmes where you can enhance animal welfare and gain  experience in desexing large numbers of street animals. You can volunteer with dogs and cats regardless of experience so long as you want to enhance animal care in this local community project.

The World Wide Fund For Nature is another organization energetically working to protect wildlife.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)