Nawee Changpirom has dedicated years to rescuing trafficked wildlife in Thailand, encountering unusual cases like leopards, hornbills, and even living corals hidden in a ceiling. He leads a unit within Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), which combats the trafficking of a wide range of animals—from African elephant ivory to monkeys destined for the pet trade or laboratory testing. The illegal wildlife trade is one of the most widespread and profitable forms of organized crime globally, often run by cross-border cartels. Thailand’s situation is particularly complex due to its rich biodiversity, the presence of rare species in neighboring countries, and its strategic location accessible by land, sea, and air. In 2023, the DNP established the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit (WCU), a specialized team with three permanent staff focused on tracking and intercepting illegal wildlife transactions. A major part of their work involves monitoring social media, which has become the primary platform for buying and selling illegal animals. Traders often use vague language, describing animals as needing to be “rehomed” rather than for sale, and post cropped images to hide their locations. To counter this, the WCU employs undercover officers who can gather evidence to secure court warrants for animal seizures. One such officer, known as "Tee," has used creative disguises to gather intelligence. He has climbed electricity poles pretending to be a repairman to look into courtyards and posed as a land surveyor to inspect neighboring properties. These tactics are crucial for obtaining the legal authority to rescue animals. However, Tee is often haunted by cases where the team arrived too late, finding animals either dead or too weak to survive. Trafficked animals often suffer from the stress of being removed from their natural habitat, the trauma of smuggling, and exposure to unfamiliar diseases. "I wonder if we could have done something to get there sooner," Tee, 43, told AFP. "Whether they are big or small, all animals' lives are precious." At the DNP’s facility, a six-month-old leaf monkey curled in the rubber-gloved hand of vet Thanawadee Phaichana shows the fragile state of many rescued animals. The monkey was found in luggage at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, destined for India, where demand for exotic pets is rising. Another monkey found in the same bag died after rescue. Thanawadee explained that many smuggled animals are weakened, and some are even sedated to prevent them from moving or making noise. Animals rescued in and around Bangkok are treated at the DNP’s facility before being sent to a sanctuary. While older, healthier animals may eventually be released back into the wild, younger ones often struggle to survive without the skills learned in the wild. "I feel sorry for them," Thanawadee said. Wildlife traffickers in Thailand can face up to 10 years in prison for crimes involving protected species and 15 years for endangered ones. Recent high-profile arrests have included the rescue of a leaf monkey, a gibbon, and hundreds of turtles, as well as multiple airport interceptions. However, challenges remain, including legal setbacks like the 2019 dismissal of a case against a suspected wildlife trafficking kingpin, who remains at large despite later being sentenced. The team also faces difficulties with social media platforms that block their investigations and a lack of staff and funding. Officers sometimes use their own money for undercover operations, Nawee said. He emphasized that the key to solving the crisis is ending the exotic pet trade. "These are wild animals; they don’t belong in a cage."