Thai National Park Will Mail Back Litter to Visitors

Varawut Silpa-archa tells tourists to avoid littering in the Khao Yai National Park. Offenders will receive their garbage back through mail.

The Khao Yai National Park aims to let visitors be accountable for their littering. Anyone who visits the area must remember that throwing garbage within the park is a major no-no. No one likes to have their garbage mailed back to them, right?

The Khao Yai National Park is a popular wildlife destination in Thailand. Situated near Bangkok, the Thai national park is known for its diverse, endemic wildlife and lush vegetation. Established in 1962, the park is home to diverse animal species including monkeys and elephants. The park covers a wide area of more than 700 square miles, as well. Visiting tourists are blamed for desecrating the protected location by leaving behind used cans, bottles, and other empty food receptacles.

Garbage Sent Back as Mail

To counter the problem, Varawut Silpa-archa, Thailand’s minister of natural resources and environment, announces that all garbage found to have been littered by visitors shall be sent back to them via mail. Violators shall also be banned from the place, registered with the Thai police, and be faced with a probable fine or 5-year stay in prison.

To make it more convenient for police to pinpoint offenders, all tourists are required to register their names and home addresses. “Your trash—we’ll send it back to you,” Mr Silpa-archa asserts as he reminds would-be visitors of the possible consequences of littering in the national park. In his Facebook post, he shares images showing the trash collected in the place and the consequent “trash package” to be sent back to the identified violator.

“I will pick up all of your garbage,” his message’s translation states. “Postage back …home as [a] souvenir,” the translation continues.

Reopening of Borders

In June 2020, Thailand approved its plan for the reopening of its borders to select foreign visitors. Consequently, the Southeast Asian nation began accepting international travellers from various countries in July. However, accepted tourists are sternly reminded to uphold the different guidelines imposed. The Khao Yai National Park, for instance, is home to a variety of animals and cleanliness must be strictly maintained. Garbage left by tourists can be highly dangerous to wildlife.

Besides harming the general environment, empty food packages, when not immediately found, are accidentally eaten by the animals. Thus, visitors are strictly forbidden to leave any garbage in the park and remember the consequences of such irreverent practice.  

Adherence to Guidelines

It is important for tourists to follow the guidelines imposed by the Thai government. Littering in the Khao Yai National Park is punishable by law. Aside from receiving their garbage once they get back to their home country, violators may be banned, fined, or imprisoned for 5 years.

Protecting the environment must be upheld, not only in Thailand, but all across the world. The issue of climate change is of major concern. Various natural disasters and emergency health concerns are directly related to the rapid degradation of our natural resources. The massive call for environmental protection and conservation should be answered by all.