Mekong - U.S. Partnership
On April 25, hundreds of students at International School Bangkok celebrated Earth Week with a one-day outreach event on wildlife trafficking. Freeland, the implementing partner of the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking Program, sponsored the awareness-building event.
Event activities highlighted the plight of endangered species trafficked in the region, the event activities emphasized the importance of changing behavior of those interested in buying exotic pets, many of which are part of an illegal market prevalent in Bangkok.
Students learned about the common species found in the illicit pet trade, reasons to refrain from supporting the trade, and ways they can join in to help create broader awareness. The outreach event was part of the program's larger, region-wide wildlife consumption reduction campaign, iTHINK.
ISB Teachers are now coordinating a school competition tasking students to explain why they think it is important to protect endangered animals; winners will be announced later in May. Outreach events such as this encouraging behavior change are an integral part of ensuring sustainable protection of the region’s endangered species.
Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update
