CHANTHABURI, THAILAND – 91 wild elephants have stormed out of the Khao Soi Dao sanctuary into inhabited areas, tearing down fences and crossing trenches.
Three elephants died at the end of last year from illegally installed electric wires. Affected locals are waiting for more than four million Baht in compensation.
91 elephants leave the sanctuary
The Khao Soi Dao wildlife sanctuary spans more than 460,000 Rai and has the biggest elephant problem in the country. Tambon Thap Chang is hit hardest, with more than 81,000 Rai of inhabited land under Article 121.
Tracks and camera trap footage show elephants heading out to forage as early as evening. Representatives of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment visited the area to inspect the mobile response and elephant-driving teams.
Elephants overcome trenches and rope fences
The existing elephant trenches are not enough. The animals follow their old paths and push soil into the trenches until they become shallower.
said Rosarin Chaijin, member of the Tambon Thap Chang council.
A female elephant is reported to have pulled out the fence posts with her trunk, letting more animals get into the fields. Herds arrive with up to 30 animals, sometimes seven to eight per day.
Three elephants die from electric fence
Some locals are still illegally installing 220-volt electric lines to keep elephants away, according to reports. Three wild elephants died from them at the end of last year.
Compensation for damage caused by the animals is moving slowly. In the Khao Soi Dao area alone, victims are waiting for more than four million Baht because the current procedure involves multiple steps.
Helpers demand drones and food supplies
Rosarin Chaijin, who drives the elephants back every night, describes encounters in the fields, in front of houses, and during late-night rubber tapping. A brief glance at a passing elephant can turn dangerous.
Forest officials are too few in number and sometimes have to work two to three nights without enough sleep. Volunteers help out but say they lack drones to find hidden elephants, as well as money for equipment, ping pong balls, and food.
Natural barrier of spiky plants proposed
Local representatives suggest planting three rows of Tao Rang inside the elephant trenches. The plant is resilient and grows new shoots after being eaten.
As the plants age, they develop thorns meant to irritate elephants trying to cross. This would create an additional natural barrier alongside the trench.
Committee demands corridors and faster aid
The Senate Committee recommends studying and improving elephant corridors because the animals use the same routes regularly. In the Article 121 area there are more than 7,000 land plots covering over 80,000 Rai. The average plot is about ten Rai per owner.
Instead of farming and durian plantations, the committee wants to promote tourism there in the form of safari. It also demands speeding up compensation: from a wait of eight months to a year down to a payout within 30 days at most. The responsible agencies are to review the procedures and propose rule changes to the government.