Wildlife Alliance

"Sold Out" Public Awareness Campaign Introduced at Customs in International Airport.

Originally Published by The Regional Environment Office, USAID, Bangkok

This week, anti-wildlife crime banners were placed next to all customs exit points of Bangkok's international airport.  The banners, part of the USAID-funded "Sold Out" campaign have been amended to remind thousands of daily visitors that "Illegal Wildlife Trafficking is Punishable by Thai Law" and that the public can report wildlife crimes to two government hotlines.

A passenger at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport passes by an anti-wildlife crime banner before entering customs control.

The "Sold Out" campaign, organized by PeunPa (a member of the Wildlife Alliance) was launched by the Thai Prime Minister and US Ambassador to Thailand earlier this year, as part of Thailand's commitment to the USAID-supported ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN).  The banners were produced by PeunPa, four Thai government agencies, and JWT Advertising Firm, with support from USAID.  Thai Police, Customs, and CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) logos join USAID's as co-sponsors of this growing campaign, which has also been featured in Bangkok's downtown billboards, bus stops and popular magazines.  The ASEAN-WEN Support Program is now exploring other opportunities for additional airport venues.