Latest news with #Chalerm
Bangkok Post
10-08-2025
- General
- Bangkok Post
Rise of the 'Bangkok Dragon'
A temporary sculpture of the Asian water monitor at Lumpini Park has shone a spotlight on one of Bangkok's most recognisable residents -- the large lizard often seen basking by the park's lakes. Locally nicknamed the "Bangkok Dragon", the reptile has become a quirky tourist attraction thanks to its calm, non-aggressive nature. The lizards are not confined to Lumpini Park; they thrive in areas connected to canals and wetlands across the capital, and can even be spotted near Government House. While their population in Bangkok is unknown, authorities frequently receive requests to remove them from private properties. The Asian water monitor is classified as a protected species under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act. However, following a Wildlife Preservation and Protection Committee meeting in November last year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued a ministerial regulation granting special permission for commercial breeding. The policy aims to address public complaints while creating economic value. In July, the committee set a trade price of 500 baht per animal, with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) holding exclusive sales rights. Chalerm Poommai, director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, said more than 400 water monitors are held at the Khaozon Wildlife Breeding Centre in Ratchaburi province after being captured in public spaces. "Once the regulation is published in the Royal Gazette, we can start trading them," Mr Chalerm said, adding that over 200 advance orders have already been placed. Capturing wild specimens will remain illegal and all farmed lizards will be microchipped to verify their origin. Buyers must hold a wildlife breeding or zoo licence. The 500-baht price includes a 100-baht microchip fee, he said. The DNP also plans to survey wild populations to ensure compliance with Cites (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulations, which list the species under Appendix II -- allowing regulated international trade. In recent years, the species' range has expanded as far north as Chiang Mai, says wildlife researcher Rujira Mahaprom. He said water monitors play an important role in urban ecosystems as top predators and scavengers, and are harmless to humans, though they can be a nuisance for fish farmers. Commercial breeding could help manage populations, he noted, stressing the need for accurate population data before introducing wider controls. The Thai Tanning Industry Association has also welcomed the policy. Its president, Suwatchai Wongcharoensin, said the lizard's distinctive leather -- resembling a blend of crocodile and snake patterns -- is prized by luxury brands for bags, shoes, and accessories. Currently, the Philippines is the only exporter of Asian water monitors for the global leather trade. The Kasikorn Research Centre says water monitor skins can fetch between 4,200-14,000 baht per square metre. The sector could boost exports and offer environmental benefits. Exotic leather exports from Thailand are valued at US$200 million (6.5 billion baht) annually, compared to $600 million for cowhide, with Europe, China, and Japan as major markets.
Bangkok Post
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Bangkok Post
Battling the big apps
In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an application called Tam Sang Tam Song (On Demand Delivery) was launched by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation in collaboration with the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University. The app was developed to assist motorbike taxi drivers and local restaurants through economic difficulties caused by lockdowns. As a pilot app, it was tested in Ladprao Soi 101 in Bangkok, Betong and Yala and received positive feedback. Because of the pandemic, people turned to mobile platforms for food delivery and ride hailing services. This change significantly affected the income of motorbike taxi drivers. Chalerm Changthongmadun, head of the Motorbike Taxi Association of Thailand, revealed that from their usual earnings of 600 baht to 700 baht per day, it became difficult for motorbike taxi drivers to make even 500 baht a day. People raised the question that instead of complaining about reduced income why didn't motorbike taxi drivers (wins) join mobile platforms. Chalerm explained that there are regulations that specify their operating area. Win motorbike taxi drivers cannot pick up passengers outside their designated zone. On the other hand, motorbike drivers using ride hailing apps can be matched with passengers from any area. Though Win drivers feel that it is unfair, they do not want to break the law. "I feel that the law does not protect us during a time when we cannot earn as much as we used to in the past. There are over 100,000 motorbike taxi drivers in Bangkok, but there was no tool that enabled passengers to connect with us. Before this, people had to walk to the Win to take a motorbike taxi, but now, they do not need to. Thus, we hope to have our own platform that can directly reach passengers and/or customers," said Chalerm. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation revealed that according to a 2023 survey of 400 motorbike taxi drivers in 50 districts in Bangkok, 89.3% of drivers had not signed up with ride hailing services because they experienced inconvenience using apps. They also experienced complicated application processes and extra expenses such as commissions and application fees. As a result, Tam Sang Tam Song is an alternative for Win motorbike taxi riders. In collaboration with Akkanut Wantanasombut, a researcher at the Institute of Asian Studies of Chulalongkorn University, a pilot of the Tam Sang Tam Song app was developed by students at Chulalongkorn University. The team later received support from students at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. After testing the app, which currently provides a food delivery service via its own platform as well as on the Line messaging app, the team also launched a ride hailing service called Nong Khoei Ma Thao Rai (How much was your usual fare?). In order to create a friendly user platform, the team decided to launch it on the Line app. Both apps provide services in 19 locations nationwide from Sam Yan to Yala via Bang Kruay Nonthaburi and Betong. Santi Patiphanrat, president of the Public Electric Motorcycle Taxi Association said that many mobile platforms had reduced prices to attract passengers to the point where earning a living has become unrealistic. The Public Electric Motorcycle Taxi Association also urged the government to launch a state platform to help motorbike taxis, but it was never realised. "Now, the Nong Khoei Ma Thao Rai platform has officially been launched. I hope these two platforms can reach communities, so motorbike taxi drivers can earn more income." In general, mobile ride hailing and food delivery platforms are popular because they are convenient, offer users the ability to know the fare in advance and offer users the function of tracking their ride/order in real time. However, since these mobile apps charge commission fees up to 30%, using the apps can be expensive. Fortunately, there is no charge for using Tam Sang Tam Song and Nong Khoei Ma Thao Rai. Motorbike taxi drivers can apply to these two apps free of any application charges. For the Tam Sang Tam Song app, motorbike taxi drivers, restaurants and users have to co-contribute to the estimated fee which is about six baht per order. This fee is lower than other mobile app commission fees. Restaurants which use Tam Sang Tam Song's food delivery service can sell dishes at prices close to the prices at their restaurant. However, users still have to pay the delivery fee. Nong Khoei Ma Thao Rai's fare is calculated according to the Ministry of Transport regulations. For example, the fare for the first two kilometres must not exceed 25 baht. Each additional kilometre, but within five kilometres, must not exceed five baht. "When a user submits a request for a ride, mobile ride hailing apps will initially select motorbike drivers who have a good driver rating. To be fair to drivers, Nong Khoei Ma Thao Rai will select the driver who has been in queue the longest first. If the driver refuses the request, the platform will select the next driver in queue." The concept of these two apps is excellent because they benefit all parties -- motorbike taxi drivers, restaurants and passengers. However, only 300 motorbike taxi riders have applied to these two platforms. This means not many motorbikes are available. The platform developers claimed that their services are available in 19 locations nationwide, but there is no list of exact locations available, not even on Due to limited financial and manpower, Akkanut, the project leader, admitted that they cannot wait until the platform is 100% complete, but they will continue to develop it. During the launch, a driver suggested that there should be a customer inquiry service centre since they are not familiar with the platform. He said during this early period, there should be human communication instead of bots to respond to any requests or questions. Akkanut responded that he is the person handling all questions and requests, but other drivers have suggested that there should be volunteers from all districts to help out. "We do not aim to compete with other platforms, but we offer an alternative to people. I hope that more motorbike taxi drivers will apply to the platforms. When we tested them in certain areas which did not have drivers available, users who had a bad experience never came back. Moreover, it is possible that these users will post negative feedback on social platforms," said Akkanut.
The Star
14-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Former Thai private hospital chief says Cambodian patient numbers remain steady
BANGKOK: The ongoing tension along the Thai-Cambodian border, which has led to temporary border closures and reports that Cambodia may begin sending patients to other countries instead of Thailand, has raised questions about the potential impact on the country's healthcare sector. There are also indications that Cambodian authorities may recall migrant workers currently employed in Thailand. Notably, patients from CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam), as well as from the Middle East, are among the primary groups seeking medical services in Thailand. Dr Chalerm Harnphanich, CEO of Bangkok Chain Hospital PCL and former president of the Private Hospital Association, told reporters on Friday (June 13) that the number of Cambodian patients coming to Thailand for medical treatment remains stable, despite the border situation. Former private hospital chief says Cambodian patient numbers remain steady "Patient volumes depend on each hospital network's client base. Since the border tensions began, we have not seen a drop in Cambodian patients. "Those who can afford it continue to fly in, including for major procedures like heart surgery. "Advanced treatment is a matter of life and death, and patients prioritise access to quality care. "In most international contexts, medical patients are exempt from border restrictions," Dr Chalerm said. Healthcare sector is largely unaffected "In terms of patient access, the healthcare sector has not been impacted. It's similar to what we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic — even when checkpoints were closed, patients could still cross borders for medical reasons. "Healthcare is a humanitarian issue. From what we've monitored since the recent closures, there's been no impact. Patients can seek care across the border 24 hours a day," he added. When asked whether a potential recall of Cambodian workers could affect the Cambodian patient population in Thailand, Dr Chalerm responded that, in his view, the issue depends on the job market back in Cambodia. "If workers are recalled, the question is whether there are sufficient jobs for them back home, especially as the country faces trade sanctions from the US and EU. "If there are no jobs, people will suffer. Those already working legally in Thailand and earning good wages are unlikely to return," he said. CLMV patients make up nearly half Dr Chalerm revealed that by late 2024, around 14% of the group's revenue came from international patients, mainly from CLMV countries and the Middle East. He noted that a significant contract with Kuwait had recently lapsed, impacting revenue from the region. In the first quarter of 2025, the group saw a 13–14% increase in international patients, with CLMV nationals accounting for approximately 48% of that total. The largest segments were from Myanmar, followed by Laos and Cambodia. Patients from the Middle East represented about 28%, although the first quarter coincided with the Ramadan period. Aranyaprathet branch sees steady flow of Cambodian patients Chalerm also noted that the Kasemrad Hospital Group operates branches in Laos, Mae Sai (Chiang Rai province), and Aranyaprathet (Sa Kaeo province). He confirmed that the number of Cambodian patients at the Aranyaprathet branch had not declined, despite recent border tensions. "I monitor the figures daily, and it's clear that patient numbers — especially Cambodians at our Aranyaprathet branch — remain steady, making up about 30–35% of total patients at that location. Illness doesn't stop at borders — patients still cross for treatment," he said. - The Nation/ANN
The Star
06-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Spotted: Critically endangered Malayan tiger in Southern Thailand
BANGKOK: A rare Malayan tiger has been spotted once again in Thailand's Bang Lang National Park, marking an exciting second sighting in just two years and a major step forward in the country's fight to protect the endangered species. The Malayan tiger, scientifically known as Panthera tigris jacksoni, was captured on camera as part of a long-term wildlife monitoring programme in the park, Thai daily Bangkok Post reported on Sunday (May 4). The park spans approximately 261sq km across the Bannang Sata, Than To, and Betong districts in Yala province, located in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Chalerm Phoommai, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, told the Bangkok Post that this is the second time the elusive predator has been documented in the area. The first confirmed sighting of this species occurred in 2023, when a Malayan tiger, later nicknamed 'Bang Lang 01', was filmed in the same area using the park's camera system. Malayan tigers are a distinct subspecies found only in the southern forests of Thailand and the Malayan Peninsula. They are genetically and geographically separate from the Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), which inhabits central and western Thailand, including protected areas such as Kaeng Krachan, Huai Kha Khaeng, and Khao Yai National Parks. 'This discovery highlights the ecological richness of Bang Lang National Park and Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary,' said Chalerm. 'These areas serve as critical habitat corridors, connecting protected forests across the Thai-Malaysian border.' The sighting forms part of the ongoing SMART Patrol project, a robust ranger patrol and data-collection initiative designed to track threats and support ecosystem conservation. In addition to the Malayan tiger, the park's camera traps have captured images of several other rare species, including elephants, gaur (a large bovine native to South Asia and South-East Asia) and tapirs. Officials from the Wildlife Conservation Office and the 6th Forest Conservation Office (Pattani branch) are actively monitoring the Malayan tiger population, the Bangkok Post reported. They are using the data to help shape long-term conservation strategies in partnership with national and regional organisations. The Malayan tiger, a national symbol of Malaysia and key conservation priority for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has seen a dramatic decline in numbers from an estimated 3,000 in the 1950s to fewer than 150 tigers in the wild as of 2022. This decline is primarily due to habitat loss from rapid development, agricultural expansion, and poaching, says WWF-Malaysia. Between 2016 and 2020, Malaysia's first National Tiger Survey, conducted by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, WWF-Malaysia, and other non-governmental organisations, revealed the continued dwindling of the Malayan tiger population. The species is now Totally Protected under Malaysia's Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and is classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, which assesses the risk of extinction for species worldwide. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
Spotted: Critically endangered Malayan tiger in Southern Thailand
The Malayan tiger was photographed in Bang Lang National Park, marking the second confirmed sighting there in two years. PHOTO: THAILAND DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS, WILDLIFE AND PLANT CONSERVATION A rare Malayan tiger has been spotted once again in Thailand's Bang Lang National Park, marking an exciting second sighting in just two years and a major step forward in the country's fight to protect the endangered species. The Malayan tiger, scientifically known as Panthera tigris jacksoni, was captured on camera as part of a long-term wildlife monitoring programme in the park, Thai daily Bangkok Post reported on May 4. The park spans approximately 261 sq km across the Bannang Sata, Than To, and Betong districts in Yala province, located in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Mr Ch alerm Phoommai, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, t old the Bangkok Post that this is the second time the elusive predator has been documented in the area. The first confirmed sighting of this species occurred in 2023 , when a Malayan tiger, later nicknamed 'Bang Lang 01', was filmed in the same area using the park's camera system. Malayan tigers are a distinct subspecies found only in the southern forests of Thailand and the Malayan Peninsula. They are genetically and geographically separate from the Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), which inhabits central and western Thailand, including protected areas such as Kaeng Krac han, Huai Kha Khaeng, and Khao Yai National Parks. 'This discovery highlights the ecological richness of Bang Lang National Park and Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary,' said Mr Chalerm. 'These areas serve as critical habitat corridors, connecting protected forests across the Thai-Malaysian border.' The sighting forms part of the ongoing SMA RT Patrol project, a robust ranger patrol and data-collection initiative designed to track threats and support ecosystem conservation. In addition to the Malayan tiger, the park's camera traps have captured images of several other rare species, including elephants, gaur (a large bovine native to South Asia and South-east Asia) and tapirs. Officials from the Wildlife Conservation Office and the 6th Forest Conservation Office (Pattani branch) are actively monitoring the Malayan tiger population, the Bangkok Post reported. They are using the data to help shape long-term conservation strategies in partnership with national and regional organisations. Dwindling numbers in the wild The Malayan tiger, a national symbol of Malaysia and key conservation priority for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has seen a dramatic decline in numbers from an estimated 3,000 in the 1950s to fewer than 150 tigers in the wild as of 2022. This decline is primarily due to habitat loss from rapid development, agricultural expansion, and poaching, says WWF-Malaysia. Between 2016 and 202 0, Malaysia's first National Tiger Survey, conducted by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, WWF-Malaysia, and other non-governmental organisation s, revealed the continued dwindling of the Malayan tiger population. The species is now Totally Protected under Malaysia's Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and is classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, which assesses the risk of extinction for species worldwide. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
