Urgent efforts underway to return elephant herd causing havoc in central Thailand

A herd of over 100 elephants, currently causing havoc in the Prachinburi region of Thailand, are being urgently ushered back to their natural habitat. These elephants have been devastating crops, causing damage to more than 60 acres of farmland and resulting in losses exceeding 1 million baht.

To mitigate this, the state is accelerating efforts to return these elephants to the wild, while also addressing the damage inflicted upon the local community.

Today, it was reported of a Facebook post from Thanakiat Chairat, a volunteer elephant herder from Wang Tha Chang, Kabin Buri. In his post, Thanakiat appealed for cooperation from fellow volunteers, local leaders, and residents to help block the elephants from Koh Sadao, Area 11.

The elephants, being driven into the Ang Ra forest, would pass through Area 4, the Kok Mai Daeng Village group, Area 14, the Ma Kong group, and Area 17, the Khao Lai-Klong Tan group, before reaching the Bagrasop forest.

Thanakiat explained that Sadao Forest is the area where elephants from the Kaew forest conservation area in Chachoengsao province have migrated. Over 70 of these elephants had crossed provinces from Chachoengsao, seeking food and shelter, and have chosen Sadao Forest as their new home.

This space spans over 200 acres and used to be a rental area of the Forestry Department. Now, it falls under the Kittisana forest park, located on the border of several villages across two sub-districts – including Wang Kwang village, Area 14, 8, 11, 9, and 6 from Wang Tha Chang, and Area 11, 4, and 14 from Khao Mai Kaew, Kabin Buri, Prachinburi province, reported KhaoSod.

Elephant migration

During the dry and cold seasons, the elephants migrate in herds, initially sending a small group of 10 to scout the area for food and water sources. Once the crops in Chachoengsao province were harvested, more elephants followed, totalling over 100.

These elephants found ample food, water, and shelter in the areas of Wang Tha Chang and Khao Mai Kaew in Kabin Buri, Prachinburi province. Despite attempts to repel them back to their original habitat in Chachoengsao, the elephants have refused to leave Prachinburi, leading to the migration of over 70 additional elephants.

A resident affected by the elephant intrusion, Ad Taophong, who grows sugarcane and rice, suffered damages worth more than 1 million baht (US$28,662). His sugarcane crops were destroyed by the elephants over an area of 50 to 60 acres. He urged the government to return the elephants to their original habitat in Chachoengsao province, rehabilitate the elephant fences and barriers, and provide adequate care for the residents in the area.

Another local, Kittichai Lathong, the village head of Moo 8, Khao Mai Kaew, Kabin Buri, helped in the effort to herd the elephants back to their original habitat in Chachoengsao province. Despite their efforts, the elephants splintered into smaller groups making it harder to herd them.

In the end, they appealed to the government for immediate assistance and compensation for the farmers affected by the elephant intrusion.