THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: Passengers and their luggage entering Thailand through Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport are to get a good sniffing on the way into the country, but its all for a good cause.

Over the last two years, 4,000kg (about 8,818lb) of ivory worth about Bt170 million ($US5.2 million) has been intercepted entering the country, resulting in Thailand now ranked third behind Congo and Nigeria as a world trading centre for the prohibited item by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

In an attempt to stamp out the trade, Environment and Natural Resource minister Suwit Khunkitti, on Wednesday launched a “Buy Ivory, Buy Trouble!” campaign, aimed at raising awareness among tourists of the danger to elephants from purchasing souvenirs made of ivory.

In an attempt to stop ivory entering through Bangkok International AIrport, two pure-bred labradors named Si Thong and Si Phoon have been trained by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to detect smuggled wildlife, with specific focus on ivory, and yesterday took up their posts.
Mr. Suwit said people caught smuggling ivory faced up to four-years imprisonment if convicted and it was hoped the introduction of the two dogs, along with a strong information and education campaign and increased monitoring at international airports across the country, will result in Thailand being delisted as a major centre for ivory trade by Cites at its meeting in Doha commencing March 13.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for March 11, 2010