The animal job of King Rama X to promote more harmonious coexistence is now succeeding.
The Eastern Forest Complex is thought to be the region’s most significant low-lying jungle environment.
Covering more than 1.363 million ray in five regions, particularly Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chon Buri and Sa Kaeo, the diverse is home to two wildlife sanctuaries and three regional gardens.
It’s also home to over 600 wildlife species including 450 wild animals, which have an annual people expansion of 8.2 %– the highest in the country.
Yet, the population of wild animals is growing, which has caused them to roam outside the designated forest and into nearby areas, destroying crops and causing fatalities for people.
According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ( DNP ), 115 human fatalities were reported in the complex between 2012 and 2023.
His Majesty King Rama X’s program Patcharasutha Khachanurak, which aims to foster a healthy interaction between people and wild animals in character, was launched in October 2019.
King Rama X is concerned about people living in woodland zones and for the DNP’s Office of Royal Initiative Projects, according to Phongsak Doungyotha, chairman of the DNP’s Office of Royal Initiative Projects.
The King endorsed the National Park Act and the Wildlife Conservation and Preservation Act as the first laws in the nation to give value to nearby populations living in forest areas.
Under His Majesty’s jobs, state firms have enhanced their job in improving the living conditions of both visitors and wildlife.
The company’s new achievements include increasing lawn area area to over 6, 064 ra, improving soil quality to 2, 900 rai, expanding nutritious crop plantations to 1, 500 rai, installing 22 water sources and 118 checks on dam construction, and arranging 144 synthetic salt licks.
Additionally, it has expanded the initiative of late King Rama IX to 1, 148 rai in order to add more green spaces to the area.
Mr. Phongsak noted that the office has also been collaborating closely with neighborhood groups under the umbrella of the” Khachanurak Village” model. The model aims to improve local knowledge of wild elephants ‘ behavior and provide basic training to lessen confrontation, including how to safely force the animals back to the forest.
Eight model villages have been tested in five provinces of the forest complex. ” The royal projects ‘ key principle is sustainable development. When people become aware of the potential benefits of the forest, they work to protect and preserve the forest.
King Rama X continues his father’s project, in which he claims people and the forest could coexist peacefully.
The Nong Krathing community in Chachoengsao’s Sanam Chai Khet district is one of the Khachanurak model villages.
The Khao Ang Ruenai Wildlife Sanctuary has a large number of edible crop plantations, including sugar cane, rice, and maize, close to a reservoir.
Locals had long experienced intrusion issues caused by wild elephants. The community was frightened when around 100 wild elephants visited their farms in 2015 to feed on their crops.
When HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha visited the community in 2020, she saw the issues and included Nong Krathing in the Khachanurak program.
Prathum Panakul, the village’s chief of Nong Krathing, claimed the project benefits the area’s residents. It introduced a cooperative vegetable farming program that has allowed locals to plant vegetables together for extra money in addition to their income from rice and cassava plantations. They were able to earn 300-500 baht a day, she said.
Local authorities and state organizations have also partnered to patrol the area to stop elephants from entering.
According to Ms. Prathum, farmers have switched from growing edible crops to growing rubber trees and other profitable crops in an effort to reduce their food sources. We live a better life because of the kindness shown to his people by King Rama X. We would like to thank him for his assistance in our situation. Because they saw the benefits and realized that the King has never abandoned his people,” she said, other villages would like to take part in the project.”