According to the Wild Animals Preservation and Protection Act of BE 2535, Red-whiskered Bulbuls are a protected species, meaning that hunting and possession are prohibited. Possession must be registered and breeding permits are required, while breeding stocks are carefully monitored with trading descendants traded only by license.
Newly-born Red-whiskered Bulbul from registered parents is unlawful if the bird owner has no breeding license.
There is a distinctive musical quality to the voice of the red-whiskered Bulbul. Due to the lyrical quality of the songbird’s singing voice, the scientifically-named Pycnonotus jocosuse has been popular among bird lovers, especially in southern Thailand. Raised there as pets, they are also bred for sale to other regions and to the neighbouring country of Singapore.
A 15-day-old baby bird costs Bt4,000-5,000, but if it wins a golden voice award in competition it becomes ever more valuable, with its price possibly rising to a hundred thousand baht — or even double that for some customers such as a Singaporean millionaire.
That is why there is a call for withdrawing the species from the Wildife Protection List. Delisting will pave the way for the trade to function more smoothly. In contrast, conservationists are afraid that removing the species from the list may lead to the heavy capture of the birds in the wild, a threat to the species which could lead to its extinction.
The Red-whiskered Bulbuls Breeder Confederation is calling for the bird raisers to register the birds to make them legal.
“The confederation has discussed the issue and we support legal breeding. We won’t talk about withdrawing the species from the protected list anymore, because it can cause problems for everyone. Now, breeding the Red-whiskered Bulbuls helps bird raisers, the country earns income and it creates jobs for the unemployed,” Confederation President, Surathep Boonwatwanit said.
Thailand’s Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office last month sponsored a conference at Bangkok’s Kasetsart University to push bird owners, breeders and traders to operate their businesses legally, and it could generate income for exporters, breeders and cage-makers. (MCOT online news)
