The cabinet’s decision last week to approve the removal of the red-whiskered bulbul from the list of protected species marks a troubling retreat from conservation policy. The move allows the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to delist the species despite long-standing concerns about poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. It is another example of environmental policy being reshaped for political gain at the expense of biodiversity.
The red-whiskered bulbul occupies a special place in the culture of the deep South. Renowned for its distinctive song, the bird has long been prized in singing competitions, where champion birds can command extremely high prices. Its cultural significance, however, should not obscure its ecological value.
The bird plays an important role in nature as a seed disperser. By feeding on fruits and depositing seeds across different locations, it contributes to forest regeneration and the spread of plant species. This ecological function is one reason the DNP previously classified it as a protected species. Delisting the bird runs counter to efforts to safeguard biodiversity and maintain healthy ecosystems.
It is important to recognise this decision is rooted in politics. For more than six years, local politicians and parties in the South have promised supporters that the species would be removed from the protected list. The issue has proven to be a dependable vote-winner in provinces where bird-singing competitions are deeply embedded in local culture.
The military has also lent support to the proposal. The Royal Thai Army has promoted commercial bird breeding as a means of poverty reduction in the restive southern border region, where authorities have long sought economic measures to ease local grievances.
Political parties and the military, in other words, have had strong incentives to satisfy breeders and traders. Those motivations have little to do with conservation and much to do with cultivating support among an influential constituency. Arguments centred on “poverty reduction” and “cultural preservation” may sound persuasive. Yet they overlook a crucial fact: breeding and trading red-whiskered bulbuls have never been prohibited.
A captive-breeding industry has operated openly for years in southern provinces. Breeders have been able to register birds legally, while trading has flourished alongside popular bird-singing competitions. Prize-winning birds with exceptional songs and desirable markings can sell for tens of thousands of baht, while top specimens may fetch as much as half a million baht. The overall market is estimated to be worth more than one billion baht annually. This raises an obvious question: why was it necessary to remove the species from the protected list?
One answer appears to be convenience. Breeders have long complained about registration requirements, permit fees and periodic renewals. Existing regulations also require compliance with standards relating to animal welfare and public health, with penalties for violations. Rather than improving the regulatory system, authorities have chosen the easier route — removing protection altogether. Conservationists fear the consequences could be severe.
The scale of the captive trade should not be underestimated. An estimated one million red-whiskered bulbuls are being kept in captivity nationwide. Yet only a small proportion are believed to be genuinely captive-bred. The overwhelming majority are thought to have originated in the wild and entered the legal market through a system that lacks effective mechanisms for distinguishing wild-caught birds from those bred in captivity.
Breeders frequently complain that registration procedures are burdensome. At the same time, reports of poaching have continued to emerge. DNP figures show that 6,312 red-whiskered bulbuls were poached between 2020 and 2025. The highest numbers were reported in southern provinces including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Trang, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Surat Thani. Poaching has also expanded into northern provinces, where larger wild populations remain.
More importantly, DNP data indicate that poaching has not declined during the past five years despite the existence of a thriving captive-breeding industry. That reality undermines claims that commercial breeding reduces pressure on wild populations.
It is therefore dismaying that the very agency charged with protecting wildlife has supported a policy that prioritises commercial interests over conservation concerns.
In the case of the red-whiskered bulbul, politics appears to have won. The environment may end up paying the price.