<P> Due to its inland nature and latitude, the north, northeast, central and eastern parts of Thailand experience a long period of warm weather . During the hottest time of the year (March to May), temperatures usually reach up to 40 ° C (104 ° F) or more with the exception of coastal areas where sea breezes moderate afternoon temperatures . In contrast, outbreaks of cold air from China can bring colder temperatures; in some cases (particularly the north and northeast) close to or below 0 ° C (32 ° F). Southern Thailand is characterized by mild weather year - round with less diurnal and seasonal variations in temperatures due to maritime influences . </P> <P> Most of the country receives a mean annual rainfall of 1,200 to 1,600 mm (47 to 63 in). However, certain areas on the windward sides of mountains such as Ranong province in the west coast of southern Thailand and eastern parts of Trat Province receive more than 4,500 mm (180 in) of rainfall per year . The driest areas are on the leeward side in the central valleys and northernmost portion of south Thailand where mean annual rainfall is less than 1,200 mm (47 in). Most of Thailand (north, northeast, central and east) is characterized by dry weather during the northeast monsoon and abundant rainfall during the southwest monsoon . In the southern parts of Thailand, abundant rainfall occurs in both the northeast and southwest monsoon seasons with a peak in September for the western coast and a peak in November--January on the eastern coast . </P> <P> Thailand has a mediocre but improving performance in the global Environmental Performance Index (EPI) with an overall ranking of 91 out of 180 countries in 2016 . This is also a mediocre rank in the Asia Pacific region specifically, but ahead of countries like Indonesia and China . The EPI was established in 2001 by the World Economic Forum as a global gauge to measure how well individual countries perform in implementing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals . The environmental areas where Thailand performs worst (i.e. highest ranking) are air quality (167), environmental effects of the agricultural industry (106) and the climate and energy sector (93), the later mainly because of a high CO2 emission per KWh produced . Thailand performs best (i.e. lowest ranking) in water resource management (66), with some major improvements expected for the future too, and sanitation (68). </P> <P> The elephant is Thailand's national symbol . Although there were 100,000 domesticated elephants in Thailand in 1850, the population of elephants has dropped to an estimated 2,000 . Poachers have long hunted elephants for ivory and hides, and now increasingly for meat . Young elephants are often captured for use in tourist attractions or as work animals, although their use has declined since the government banned logging in 1989 . There are now more elephants in captivity than in the wild, and environmental activists claim that elephants in captivity are often mistreated . </P>

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