Plans for training centres to tame angry elephants

The national parks and wildlife chief has announced plans for elephant training centres to discipline aggressive wild elephants involved in an increasing number of attacks on people, farm crops and properties.

Director-general Attapon Charoenchansa was speaking yesterday to mark Thai National Elephant Day.

He said there are between 4,013 and 4,422 wild elephants in 16 forest complexes in Thailand and they pose serious problems, unlike domesticated elephants.

The jumbos are causing trouble for citizens, especially those living in forests in the east and western regions, in the Dong Phaya Yen and Khao Yai areas, the Phu Khieo and Nam Nao areas and Kang Krachan area.

“Wild elephants must have proper and balanced living conditions, especially those in forests bordering communities, and people are increasingly being affected,” he said.

“At this moment, people are furious at the elephants that came out to damage their crops and harm them. Now, we have a plan to keep misbehaving elephants — that harm people and lead their groups out of the forest to invade villagers’ agricultural land — under detention,” said Mr Attapon.

People dislike wild elephants because they destroy crops and attack people. Since 2015, wild elephants have killed 210 people, Mr Attapon said. The government is concerned about the issue and has developed measures to keep the elephants in the forests, he said.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is trying to solve the problem. It is deploying 200 teams to discourage wild elephants from approaching human populations.

The department plans to build centres to detain and train aggressive wild elephants, which would be released once they learn to coexist peacefully with people, he said. One of the training centres will be in Khao Ang Ruenai Wildlife Sanctuary, which extends over adjoining forests in Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong and Sa Kaeo provinces.

Others are due for the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province, Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phuluang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei, Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Surat Thani and Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary in Buri Ram, the national parks and wildlife chief said.

In addition, Mr Attapon said the authorities will control growth in wild elephants’ population using birth control vaccines.

JETJARAS NA RANONG Elephants join a feast of fruit and vegetable to celebrate the Thai National Elephant Day at the Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal in Ayutthaya yesterday. The event is also accompanied by religious rites paying homage to the dead elephants which had performed at the kraal.