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, rhino conservation groups and Members. Opinions were split. Some favored contraceptive vaccinations, 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 nationwide. 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 forests have damaged both agricultural and domestic areas, sometimes causing fatalities for people. Since 2012, crazy animals have caused 240 incidents and 208 deaths, he said. According to Mr. Athapol, the need to solve the problem was serious.
A committee on national elephant protection and administration has established guidelines for six different areas, including controlling wild elephant communities with birth control vaccines, barriers to access to wild elephants, a tracking and area network, and support for those who are impacted.
The use of vaccines to reduce the rhino community is supported by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.  ,
The ministry collaborated with Chiang Mai University’s Elephant and Wildlife Health Centre to conduct research on the use of SpayVac contraceptives. These vaccines, formerly used on American elephant, were tested in April 2024 on seven mature female animals. According to Mr. Athapol, each vaccine dose was shown to inhibit hormone production for up to seven years and never interfere with elephant behavior.
The high cost of importing vaccinations and the operational 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 experienced teams to carry them out.
Mr Chaiwat said the vaccination job may be cancelled, and various options pursued, such as recovering environments for these species.