Animal Law in ASEAN

ASEAN Animal Law delves into the ethical treatment of animals in ASEAN member countries. This includes the enabling legal and policy framework on animals, and international best practices for animal welfare. A key focus for ARIEL is on elephant law and policy in Asia that would develop clear strategies for the protection of the Asian elephant, including captive and working elephants. Policies need to be translated to legal instruments that will be promoted to ASEAN members. Together with Chiang Mai University and the University of New England, ARIEL hosted the first ASEAN Animal Law Conference in 2018 in Chiang Mai.

The enabling framework governing the ethical relationship between humans and animals also covers various topics such as animals in tourism, agriculture and as companions.

Illegal wildlife trade also forms an important illicit activity, and specifically for elephants, key issues relating to tourism and resolving human-elephant conflict.