Killings of two more gaurs prompt new investigation

By PREASIT TANGPRASERT 
THE NATION

 

 

 

NAKHON RATCHASIMA province officials have pledged to solve conflicts between wild gaurs and local farmers after three animals were killed in Wang Nam Khieo district within a period of one week.

 

The animals were apparently killed because they had roamed outside the forest and ate farmers’ crops.

 

Local people in Ban Khao Phaeng Ma of Wang Nam Khieo reported yesterday that they had found two large gaurs dead in the forest near Khao Phaeng Ma wildlife sanctuary. Each full-grown adult weighed more than 1,000 kilograms.

 

 

The first carcass, a female gaur, had been carved up, with only the skin and head left behind, while the second body of a male was still intact about 100 metres away from the first carcass. A veterinarian team has retrieved the carcasses to conduct autopsies to determine the exact cause of death.

 

Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Governor Wichien Chantharanothai expressed concern over the recent deaths yesterday.

 

 

As authorities suspected the gaurs had been killed by local farmers, Wichien said the province knew about the existing problem especially involving communities near Khao Phaeng Ma.

 

Authorities also had discussed the issue with the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP), but there were no concrete solutions.

 

“As there is still no final solution from the DNP, the local authorities can only teach local people to try to live with the wild animals in harmony, while the province will compensate for damages to people’s crops caused by wild animals,” he said. “But since there have already been three gaur deaths, the province will invite the DNP and related organisations to discuss a solution to this conflict soon.”

 

 

On Thursday, the first gaur was found shot dead in a cassava field near Khao Phaeng Ma wildlife sanctuary, reportedly killed by a farmer because the animal had broken into his plantation and destroyed crops.

 

Colonel Meechai Khamnerdphrom, superintendent of Wang Nam Khieo Police Station, said police had set up a special investigation team to investigate whether the killings were involved with illegal hunters or wildlife traders. He added that the team had already interrogated all the relevant witnesses.

 

Meechai said the killers would be brought to justice regardless of the identities.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30331438

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-13

We all love animals so no point in arguing on that.

 

But how can we stigmatise farmers who struggle to survive in terminating the animals who destroy their hard grown crops ?

 

Even certain left wing oriented societies in Europe, where animals sometimes get more social sympathy and attention then humans, certain species known to attack crops are terminated with responsible and scientific assessment by the authorities.

Edited November 12, 20178 yr by observer90210

We all love animals so no point in arguing on that.
 
But how can we stigmatise farmers who struggle to survive in terminating the animals who destroy their hard grown crops ?
 
Even certain left wing oriented societies in Europe, where animals sometimes get more social sympathy and attention then humans, certain species known to attack crops are terminated with responsible and scientific assessment by the authorities.

Usually these are farmers who got to farm land for free (certain kind of land title) from the government. They know what they are getting into land price wise.

Also they get compensation for damaged crops so killing wild animals is not a solution. Then don't farm near wildlife sanctuaries.



Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

The removal of hundreds of kilos of edible gaur meat paints a different picture.

 

Innocent farmers don't just grab their gun, they would contact authorities first or at least to admit the killing.

Let´em shoot! It´s the new Wild West here anyway. 

Ok! I know. Wild East.

5 hours ago, observer90210 said:

We all love animals so no point in arguing on that.

 

But how can we stigmatise farmers who struggle to survive in terminating the animals who destroy their hard grown crops ?

 

Even certain left wing oriented societies in Europe, where animals sometimes get more social sympathy and attention then humans, certain species known to attack crops are terminated with responsible and scientific assessment by the authorities.

 

"Even certain left-wing oriented societies in Europe, where animals sometimes get more social sympathy and attention than humans"

Vets reveal wild gaurs’ cause of death

 

 

A veterinarian team of Khao Yai National Park has performed autopsies on two wild gaurs, concluding that the animals were shot dead about seven days ago.

 

One autopsy revealed that a 10-year-old male gaur, which weighed about one tonne, had a bullet wound to its chest that pierced its lungs and windpipe. The bullet was not found.

 

The team speculated that the animal had not died instantly and ran into the woods, dying where its carcass was found.

 

Villagers of Ban Khao Phaeng Ma in Wang Nam Khieo recently alerted authorities that they had found two large gaurs dead in the forest near Khao Phaeng Ma wildlife sanctuary.

 

The second gaur, a female weighing about 500 kilograms, was butchered and its head was removed.

 

Officials and police are hunting for poachers or farmers who might have killed the animals to protect their crops.

 

Three wild gaurs have been found killed in the area in the past week.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30331489

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-13