Though Thailand reveres elephants and holds the animals as an important part of national identity, the country remains one of the most problematic worldwide when it comes to the illegal ivory trade.

A new undercover survey of markets in Thailand’s capital Bangkok from January 2013 until May 2014 by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, revealed:

A significant increase in the availability of ivory products, from 5,865 items to 14,512 items in the past 18 months

A steep rise in the number of outlets selling ivory in Thailand's capital city, from 61 to 120

The report Polishing off the ivory: Surveys of Thailand’s ivory market concludes the vast majority of ivory being sold in Thailand is illegal under international commitments the country made under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The publication comes just days before a crucial CITES meeting where Thailand will be asked to outline how it has implemented a national plan to end the illegal ivory trade, which was submitted to the Convention last year.

“As the poaching crisis continues to decimate elephant populations across Africa, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye on Thailand’s failure to revise outdated ivory legislation and live up to its international commitments,” said Crawford Allan, senior director at TRAFFIC. “Thailand has had over two decades to do the right thing and it’s past time for them to close legal loopholes that and shut down the illegal ivory trade.”