After years of investigations and appeals, Bach “Boonchai” Mai, the alleged chief of a significant worldwide wildlife trafficking ring, has been sentenced to 5 years in jail by the Thai Supreme Court docket.

Mai was convicted of making an attempt to smuggle 14 rhino horns into Thailand, however his community, Hydra, has been concerned in trafficking ivory, rhino horns, pangolin scales, tiger and lion elements, rosewood, and extra in no less than seven African nations and all through Southeast Asia. He’s now a fugitive, with a warrant out for his arrest.

This landmark verdict is a win for conservationists and sends a robust message to wildlife traffickers. It additionally reveals that high-level wildlife criminals might be delivered to justice, even once they have huge networks and sources. The authorities in Thailand are at present investigating Mai’s whereabouts, and there are hopes that he can be caught and face the results of his actions.

The case in opposition to Mai is important because the wildlife commerce has been a significant contributor to the decline of endangered species the world over. Poaching and trafficking threaten the survival of many animals, together with elephants, rhinos, tigers, and pangolins. The unlawful commerce in wildlife can also be related to corruption, cash laundering, and different legal actions.

The excellent news is that there are lots of efforts underway to deal with wildlife trafficking. Organizations like Freeland and the Counter Wildlife Trafficking on the US Division of Justice are working to dismantle legal networks and produce perpetrators to justice. Governments all over the world are additionally taking motion, and there have been many profitable seizures and arrests lately.

Nonetheless, there may be nonetheless a protracted technique to go. The unlawful wildlife commerce is estimated to be value billions of {dollars} yearly, and it’s a advanced and difficult difficulty to deal with. All of us have a task to play in combatting wildlife trafficking.

As people, we will assist conservation efforts by not shopping for merchandise constituted of endangered species, resembling ivory or tiger elements. We will additionally assist organizations which can be working to guard wildlife, resembling donating to wildlife conservation initiatives or signing petitions to induce governments to take motion.

Governments, then again, can implement stronger legal guidelines and rules to crack down on wildlife trafficking. They will additionally present extra sources for regulation enforcement companies and conservation efforts. We will all do our half to guard the world’s wildlife, and the decision in opposition to Mai is a reminder that each motion counts.

The sentencing of Bach “Boonchai” Mai is a big victory within the battle in opposition to wildlife trafficking. It’s a reminder that wildlife traffickers might be delivered to justice, and that efforts to dismantle legal networks might be profitable.

Nonetheless, there may be nonetheless a protracted technique to go, and all of us have a task to play. Let’s work collectively to guard endangered species and make sure that future generations can benefit from the magnificence and marvel of our pure world.

This article by Nicholas Vincent was first printed by OneGreenPlanet on 28 February 2023. 

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