Thai Coffee Company Uses Illegal Wildlife in TV Commercial

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Press Release

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee Company Uses Illegal Wildlife in TV Commercial

 

 

 

A baby gibbon was recently brought in to Thailand's leading wildlife

sanctuary, Kao Look Chang Wildlife rescue Center. The young animal was

brought in by some people from Bangkok who misguidedly bought the gibbon

from Bangkok's weekend market and kept it as a pet for several months. The

owners of the gibbon realized that their actions were in fact perpetuating

the illegal wildlife trade. As every wild animal that reaches the pet market

for sale there are at least 10 others killed in the wild. The gibbon, a

highly endangered species, seems to be one of the biggest sufferers within

this illegal trade in South-East Asia. Young gibbons are appealing due to

their human-like features and cute and cuddly appearance.

 

 

 

It has come to the attention of the Wildlife Friends of Thailand that a

leading producer of ice coffee in Thailand had previously used the now

rescued gibbon for a nation-wide TV commercial to promote their products.

The baby gibbon was rented for 8,000 Baht (US$ 200) from illegal wildlife

traders at Bangkok's Weekend Market and was later sold to the Bangkok couple

as a pet for again 8,000 baht (US$ 200). The Bangkok couple was first asked

to pay 15,000 as it concerned a " star " gibbon according to the traders.

 

 

 

The sale of illegal wildlife continues to be an ongoing problem within

Thailand. Commercial exploitation further supports the trade and therefore

hunting from the wild, pushing endangered species closer to the brink of

extinction.

 

 

 

Upon confirmation of our findings we approached the coffee company for

comment; the coffee company explained that the gibbon was used with approval

and under supervision of a Bangkok based wild animal or wildlife rescue

organization. They denied that the rescued gibbon was the prop in the

commercial; however they did not deny that the animal was poached from the

wild. The coffee company said they donated a significant amount of money to

the foundation that helped with the shoot of the commercial.

 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife Friends of Thailand