Campaign manager: Santi Saypanya
Partner: Wildlife Conservation Society

The approximately 600,000 hectare Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area is the second largest protected area in Laos providing sanctuary for dozens of rare and endangered mammal species including the only remaining tiger population in Laos, estimated at 9-23 individuals. Increasingly, however, these species are facing human-induced threats which are leading to their near extinction. Not only are these animals losing their homes to deforestation for agriculture and development; they are the coveted targets in a booming wildlife trade. 

Santi Saypanya of the Wildlife Conservation Society has launched a Pride campaign to reduce the hunting of tigers and their prey and to build community support for tiger conservation in 50 communities. They are also targeting senior government officials in order to build political support for their conservation efforts.  In order to increase the Indochinese tiger population at Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area and protect the tiger prey (5 species of ungulates: Gaur, Sambar Deer, Serow, Muntjac and Wild Pig), the campaign is appealing to villagers (who include legal hunters) to report people who hunt illegally as they are robbing the community of their food security. 

Santi teamed up with local public health inspectors, police and residents to monitor local restaurants, while launching a wild-game-free communications campaign with posters, radio ad spots, billboards and events throughout the region that target restaurant owners, market stall owners, and consumer populations known to purchase poached animals.  

A comprehensive communications campaign consisting of puppet shows, songs, pledges with mascot, comic booklets, posters, and t-shirts is encouraging hunters to stop hunting illegally and communities to celebrate and protect their rare biodiversity.  The campaign is also helping to strengthen enforcement systems by working with local government and park officials to implement a gun licensing system, volunteer patrols, an informant network and a tiger poaching hotline. Over 186 reports have been received via the hotline from January to May 2010 signifying both the effectiveness of the tool and the urgent need to protect tiger prey.

To further explore this campaign, please visit our conservation community at RarePlanet.org.