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As part of a plan to tackle the problem of plastic waste in Thailand, the Department of National Parks (DNP) introduced stricter measures in 2018 and banned the use of single-use plastics in all of Thailand’s National Parks. Disposable cutlery, straws and disposable food containers made of plastic or styrofoam are not permitted.
The regulations are part of an environmental project being managed by the DNP which is also responsible for wildlife and plant conservation. Like many countries, Thailand still has a long way to go to improve their environmental record, but there does seem to be a growing awareness amongst the general public. This has been reinforced by some powerful media coverage that highlights just how big the problem is. In June 2018, news cameras dramatically captured the unsuccessful rescue attempt of a whale in southern Thailand. The distressed whale was found stranded in a canal in the southern province of Songkhla where the marine animal was filmed spitting out plastic bags. The whale subsequently died despite a 5-day attempt to rescue it. An autopsy on the whale found it had swallowed more than 80 plastic bags. In total, 8kg of plastic waste was found inside the whale’s stomach.
