Krabi’s Emerald Pond defaced by tourist graffiti

The famous Emerald Pond in Krabi has been defaced with hand writings and scratches by visitors while the Chief of Khao Pra Bangkram Non-Hunting Area is preparing to prosecute anyone who is caught writing or scratching their names in the stones there.

An approximately 1 metre long area of the Emerald Pond is covered in hastily-scratched handwriting, names and pictures. Tourists are saying that it looks completely out of place and are sad as they recognise the pond is a precious place for Thais. They’ve asked for authorities to put up signage to prohibit further damage and graffiti.

The Chief of Khao Pra Bangkram Non-Hunting Area, Wutthipong Chusangrat, says he will remind the officers in the area to enforce the law more strictly and will run a PR campaign to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the pond and the natural environment.

He said, if the officers in the area catch anyone defacing the areas, they will be formerly warned, asked for their identification and expelled from the area. If the person repeats the action, he or she will be punished by law. However, he claims, there is lack of manpower at the pond while there are a lot of visitors per day and almost impossible to control.