Bird breeders tweet plea to un-list the red-whiskered bulbul

snoop1130 · November 2, 2023

Thailand‘s red-whiskered bulbul breeders’ association launched an appeal to the government, seeking to remove the bird from its list of protected species. The association argues that the breeding industry previously generated a substantial income for the economy, amounting to a billion baht.

Suratep Boonyavatvanit, president of the association, highlighted that half a decade ago, there were approximately a million breeders and double the number of red-whiskered bulbuls in the market. However, ever since the bird was designated a protected species, which necessitates special permission for breeding them commercially, the numbers have experienced a significant downfall.

Suratep pointed out that 50% of the breeders have withdrawn from the market since then. This has resulted in a decrease in the contribution to both employment and the nation’s economy, with current estimates standing at a mere 200 to 300 million baht annually.

“Red-whiskered bulbuls hold value, with some even fetching six to seven figures. During the prime of the bird-breeding business, they brought in 1 billion baht annually for the economy. The supply chain employs millions of people, encompassing bird food, bird trade, and bird showcases.”

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Caption: Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-02

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