Agricultural communities in Loei, a province in northeast Thailand, are grappling with the daunting invasion of wild elephants from the Phu Luang Wildlife Reserve. The elephants have devoured crops almost entirely in some fields, leading to an earnest plea to the relevant government agencies for an urgent resolution.

 

The impacted residents mainly inhabit 11 villages in Phu Kradueng and Huai Som districts. They are witnessing the intrusion of the wild elephants emerging from the wildlife reserve which is home to more than 30 of these giant beasts.

 

Every night the elephants venture out in search of food, causing severe damage by consuming and trampling over a vast quantity of crops. Sometimes they enter the villages, leaving the villagers in fear. The villagers say they can’t claim compensation for the destruction of their crops and possessions, blaming government agencies for failing to address the issue adequately.

 

One of the villagers from Huai Pai village, Huai Som sub-district, Phu Kradueng district, recounted his plight. He lamented the now-daily trouble caused by the elephants ravaging the crops. On one particular night, seven elephants invaded his land causing significant damage to his banana and cassava plantations alongside other crops, almost wiping out his entire field. He also complained about the similar level of destruction caused by the elephants in the fields of his neighbouring farmers.

 

The villagers live in fear as the elephants appear even during the day thus preventing them from working in their fields. They are appealing to the relevant agencies to help them find a way out of this predicament, reported KhaoSod.

 

By Nattapong Westwood

Caption: Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

#news

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/northeast-thailand-village-life-ravaged-by-wild-elephant-incursions-urgent-action-plea

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-06

 

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Put up an electric fence....not difficult. 

 

Don't wait for government help...

 

There are lots of wildlife charities and elecphat Conservation groups that could raise the money to installs livestock electric fencing. 

 

How aboht the farmers get a bit more proactive and take responsibility for their crops?  They could even start up a go fund me page for donations to help them and keep people and elephants safe. 

Permission to live in a wildlife reserve comes with inherent animal problems.

Fence them out as the post above states. 

Open fields with crops encourage grazing

I wonder what they expected would happen when they moved into the elephants territory and started growing crops? They never seem to think about the consequences. I feel bad that they lost their crops, but not as bad as I feel for the elephants losing their land. 

well, it seems to me that the elephants were eating elsewhere before, and now they’re eating the farmers crops. So what happened? Can we assume that wherever the elephants ate before they were satisfied and didn’t have a need to move into the villages? If so., restore that condition?

On 7/7/2023 at 1:09 AM, hotchilli said:

Permission to live in a wildlife reserve comes with inherent animal problems.

Fence them out as the post above states. 

Open fields with crops encourage grazing

No one has permission to live in a wildlife preserve.

THe problem is at least in part human encroachment.

elephants need food - if the park isn't managed properly, elephants run out of food and go looking for more. 

Drought and fires don't help but management should ensure that the elephants have enough food near where they normally live then they won't feel the need to enter human habitation.

Electric fences don't seem to work very well - apparently elephants don't like bees and people have made "bee fences" that are effective at keeepiganimals out.

 

Giant beasts? I thought Thais loved Elephants.