Ongoing trade in illegally-sourced tortoises and freshwater turtles highlights the need for legal reform in Thailand

Abstract

Loopholes in Thailand’s CITES-implementing legislation, the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act (WARPA), continue to enable trade in illegally-sourced tortoises and freshwater turtles, and other wildlife, smuggled into the country and sold openly in markets such as the Chatuchak Weekend Market. As such, Thailand remains a major global hub for the trade in highly threatened wildlife. Legal reform is essential to make it illegal to buy, sell or keep any CITESlisted species without permission.