 Reference Base  A survey of rhino products for retail sale in Bangkok in ... |
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Martin, E.B., 1992. A survey of rhino products for retail sale in Bangkok in early 1992. Pachyderm 15: 53-56, figs. 1-3, tables 1-3
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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Thailand |
| Subject: |
Value - Related to Horn |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
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Sale of parts in Bankok in 1992
Bangkok has been for many years a major market for rhino products, including the horn, skin, nails and penis. However, in March 1992, fewer pharmacies were selling rhino horn and skin compared with my 1990 survey, and the prices had increased by less than 10% per annum during that time, despite the major growth in the Thai economy. This strongly suggests that consumer demand has not risen. This is good news for the rhinoceros.
As the main dealers were not available during my 1992 survey, it was not possible to learn if new rhino products have recently been brought into Bangkok, but most of the rhino products for retail sale were the same pieces as in 1990. Some old stock has been sold; 24% of the pharmacies visited in 1990 offered rhino horn compared with only 14% in early 1992, a-decline which has been continuing since the early 1980s (see Table 1). Also, less rhino horn was openly displayed due to the increasing awareness of the illegality of owning rhino horn from the Asian species, and because the medicine shop owners are worried that the government might inspect their businesses. During the period 1990 to 1992, the average price of African horn dropped from $10,286 to $5,341; the average price of Asian horn rose from $21,354 to $31,275.
For rhino skin, all from the Sumatran animal, the retail prices for 1990 and 1992 are almost identical: $1,717 versus $1,721 (see Table 2). However, the percentage of medicine shops selling skin dropped from 46% to 27%. A possible reason for this apparent decline, which may also apply to rhino horn, is that some of the pharmacists were more suspicious and may not have been totally honest about telling us of their. rhino products sales. Shopkeepers realized they were selling prohibited items and consequently were more scared and uncooperative with my interpreter and myself.
The big surprise was the huge increase in the price of nails. All nails for sale are from the Sumatran species. From 1986 to 1990, their retail price rose from $1,487 a kilo to $2,604 (see Table 3). This latter figure is about the same as that for Singapore in 1990 ($2,528 a kilo). By 1992, however, the average price in Bangkok had soared to $13,905 a kilo (see Table 3) with a huge range from $1,043 to $31,287. One explanation is that Bangkok's prices rose to equal those in other Thai towns such as Hat Yai ($11,345 a kilo in 1988) and Phuket ($16,000 a kilo in 1988 also). Some of the pharmacists explained that it was becoming harder to obtain these Sumatran rhino nails, so they have recently increased the price.
It is unfortunate that members of the Forest Department, who are responsible for controlling the trade in endangered species, almost never inspect the medicine shops as they consider this to be a low priority. According to Boonlerd Angsirijinda, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Forest Department, during the past five years only one rhino horn has been confiscated. That was in 1987 when a horn from the greater one-horned or Indian rhino was seized in Bangkok's Chinatown.
Table 1. Average retail price of horn in Bangkok
Year Total No.Pharmacies Number & % Type of horn Average price
visited selling In US $
1979 23 12 52% Most African 3654
1986 44 15 34% Most Asian 11.629
1988 52 17 33% Most Sumatran 13.111
1990 46 11 24% Asian/African 15.205
1992 44 6 14% Asian/African 18.308
Martin 1992a
Table 2. Average retail price of rhino skin in Bangkok
Year Total No.Pharmacies Number & % Type of skin Average price
visited selling In US $
1986 44 8 18% Sumatran 395
1988 52 7 13% Sumatran 1254
1990 46 21 46% Sumatran 1717
1992 44 12 27% Sumatran 1727
Martin 1992
Table 3. Average retail price of rhino nail in Bangkok
Year Total No.Pharmacies Number & % Type of nail Average price
visited selling In US $
1986 44 5 11% Sumatran 1487
1988 52 7 13% Sumatran 2295
1990 Sumatran 2604
1992 44 7 16% Sumatran 13.905
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