PUBLISHED: 19 Jan 2025 at 07: 17
A forum on the use of contraceptives to reduce the number of wild elephants and address the problem of the animals wandering outside conservation areas was held by the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ( DNP ).
The conference was attended by about 300 individuals, including affected populations, scientists, rhinoceros conservation groups and Members. Landscapes were split. Some favored contraceptive immunizations, while others believed that preventing wild elephants from eroding on nearby communities may require vaccinations.
DNP director-general Athapol Charoenshunsa said about 4, 013–4, 422 wild animals live in 91 protection locations statewide. The issue of wild animals wandering outside their designated environments affects populations in five forest structures: the Western Forest, the Eastern Forest, the Dong Phaya Yen–Khao Yai Forest, the Phu Khieo–Nam Nao Forest and the Kaeng Krachan Forest.
In more than 41 protection areas spread across 42 regions, conflicts between people and wild animals have been reported.
According to Mr. Athapol, wild animals that roam outside of trees have damaged both agricultural and domestic areas, sometimes causing fatalities. Since 2012, crazy animals have caused 240 incidents and 208 deaths, he said. According to Mr. Athapol, the need to solve the problem was immediate.
A committee on national elephant protection and administration has established guidelines for six different areas: protection for wild elephants, barriers to the movement of wild elephants, a monitoring and society system, aid for those who are impacted, responsible management of areas to handle wild elephants, and reducing wild elephant populations through birth control vaccines.
The use of vaccines as a tool to reduce the elephant population is supported by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.  ,
The department has collaborated with Chiang Mai University’s Elephant and Wildlife Health Centre to conduct research into the use of SpayVac contraceptives. These vaccines, previously used on African elephants, were tested in April 2024 on seven adult female elephants. According to Mr. Athapol, each vaccine dose was shown to suppress hormone levels for carrying babies for up to seven years and was shown to not have an impact on elephant behavior.
The high cost of importing vaccines and the logistical difficulties of using them, according to Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, head of the National Park Office. Elephants and people are at risk from vaccinations in wild animals, and it takes skilled teams to carry them.
Mr Chaiwat said the vaccination project should be cancelled, and other options pursued, such as reclaiming habitats for these animals.