A Real-Life Heroin Environmentalist Whom the Word ‘Endeavor’ Cannot Define How Much He Had Done

Have you ever had this person who sparks you to do good and beneficial things for others? Do you remember why you decided to follow their steps in the first place and hope that one day you can contribute just half of what they did in the past to your own community. I believe we all have our own heroes whose deeds we admire and have respect for. These people encourage us to take a path of grace and thoughtfulness and become open-minded and considerate for those around us. To live together harmoniously and peacefully, we must mark in mind that reliance and interdependence are the key to make it last for good. In a cruel world just like today, we need an exemplary person to prove that in the end, all we have been doing will pay off. Interestingly, this very man I am about to introduce is a perfect role model who showed the world a difference he was single-handedly capable of making.

To begin with, I idolize Seub Nakhasathien, a Thai legendary environmentalist and nature lover, for what he had sacrificed to save Huai Kha Khaeng (a wildlife sanctuary) from animal traffickers and forest poachers. He is well-known for his work in wildlife conservation and his suicide after long struggling to bring justice to the voiceless residing in pristine natural habitats. During the time of his dedicated endeavors, Huai Kha Khaeng and Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary were not listed as World Heritage Sites, so it was easy for encroachers to trespass the area and capture wildlife for illegal trade. Most frequent incidents back then would be illegal logging which was believed to be driven by outlaw puppet masters who wanted to keep all advantages to themselves. It was almost hopeless for Seub to achieve a goal of conserving all the wild animals and green areas since all these life threats he received could have forced him to divert from his resolution and maybe give up.

September 1st, 1990 was the day Seub decided to end his own life. Before committing a suicide, he had ordered a close subordinate to run unfinished errands and wrote six letters as evidence of his will that he wanted an official protection for his beloved nature friends, including all trees and animals. All of his personal assets that were left behind, such as appliances and equipment for wildlife research studies, were passed on to Khao Nang Ram Wildlife Research Institution. The last thing he had done before shooting himself was establishing a holy shrine to show respect for the souls of the previous officials and forest rangers who had also sacrificed their lives to raise awareness of this long-neglected injustice.

The perpetual departure of Seub Nakhasathien has deeply affected the people who love nature to seek justice in the society. The reason why it has created such a great wave and motivation to all Thai people is because when he was still alive, not only was he a civil servant whose duties were to cope with forest protection and endangered wildlife, but he was also an inspirational leader of the nature conservation movement in Thailand. He had fought to preserve forest resources and the natural environment regardless of the fact that it could jeopardize his own life and career. His death was definitely a huge loss and it will always be the loss that all nature conservationists cannot be nonchalant over. At least, there is still me who read through his biography, watch loads of documentaries and see an importance that all of this would not be done for nothing.

Reference: https://www.ku.ac.th/kunews/news52/8/sueb/history_sueb.html 

                   https://www.seub.or.th/seub/biography/seub-story-2/