Thailand brings in elephant patrols to protect tourists in Ayutthaya as visitor numbers fall

[webfact]

The Ayutthaya Elephant Police patrols were on display for tourists on Saturday. The Superintendent of Ayutthaya Police Station, Colonel Phuris Chintranan, told reporters that the patrols had received warm praise from international tourists. (Inset) Determined police in Lopburi worked through early Saturday morning to identify and arrest a 26-year-old man who snatched the handbag of a UK tourist at midnight.

Latest tourism security scare in the centre of Lopburi. A 26-year-old man was arrested on Saturday following an early morning handbag snatch targeting a UK tourist in the city in Central Thailand famous for its uproarious monkeys.

The Royal Thai Police is turning to elephant patrols in response to a directive by PM Srettha Thavisin to upgrade security for tourists in Thailand. It comes with visitor numbers from China down substantially in October following the tragic Paragon Shopping Centre shooting in the Pathum Wan area of Bangkok on October 3rd. The latest incident saw police in Lopburi province arrest a local 26-year-old after he snatched the handbag of a 37-year-old UK visitor as police nationwide remain on high alert to protect the Kingdom’s image.

 

With anxiety growing over weak tourist arrival numbers in October ahead of the Tourist High Season, police leaders in the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya have unveiled a new approach to guaranteeing the safety of foreign visitors visiting its historic sites.

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2023-10-24

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[geisha]

Rather cruel to put them on Soi 6 or beach road in Pattaya though. 

[harleyclarkey]

Seriously? You couldn't dream this up! 

Just wait until one of these behemoths goes crazy, as happened before, and takes out a  tourist or two. 

 

ps ....love to see one chase down that bag snatcher on his motorbike....better than any circus. 

[spidermike007]

This seems very appropriate for the ongoing political circus, that is Thailand. Sretta is showing us day by day what an extraordinary genius he is. Such visionary ideas! Such leadership. 

[kwilco]

years and years people hve being trying to education the Thai authoities on animal welfare and the police go and do that! Unbelievable!!

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Royal Thai Police is turning to elephant patrols in response to a directive by PM Srettha Thavisin to upgrade security for tourists in Thailand.

Hub of gimmicks.

[Muhendis]

Tourism down from China? 

China has record unemployment at the moment and looks to be heading into a recession. So no money for holidays in Thailand.

Never mind. Get some police to ride around on elephants. That should fix it.

 

[Gandtee]

The answer to Police Reform. Only operating on trunk roads.

[nausea]

Would be a unique tourist attraction in itself I guess, so I can see the logic, given the availability of elephants in Ayutthaya.

[Thumbs]

Publicity stunt and of zero practical policing use, 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, harleyclarkey said:

Seriously? You couldn't dream this up! 

Just wait until one of these behemoths goes crazy, as happened before, and takes out a  tourist or two. 

 

Yes. 
Another headline today: Thai village chief killed in wild elephant attack

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This seems very appropriate for the ongoing political circus, that is Thailand. Sretta is showing us day by day what an extraordinary genius he is. Such visionary ideas! Such leadership. 

Yes. So far he's introducing a farang income tax and has cozied up with two of the world's biggest dictators. Outstanding start.

[Skeptic7]

Another stupid and dangerous gimmick coupled with sickening animal exploitation.

LOS... Land of STOOPID. 

[Xonax]

Don't they know, that millions of tourists are avoiding sites featuring working elephants?

[JoePai]

2 hours ago, juice777 said:

 

What a horrible noise !

[wealthychef]

I can't believe anyone is negative about this.  It's absolutely quintessential Thailand and is fabulous from my perspective.  If you hate this you are in the wrong damned country for sure.  

[KhunLA]

8 minutes ago, wealthychef said:

I can't believe anyone is negative about this.  It's absolutely quintessential Thailand and is fabulous from my perspective.  If you hate this you are in the wrong damned country for sure.  

So you're a big fan of animal abuse.   You may want to research what it takes to make an elephant fear man, so that it can be controlled.

[roo860]

'police nationwide remain on high alert to protect the Kingdom’s image.'

 

 

Comedy gold.

 

[Cake Monster]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Royal Thai Police is turning to elephant patrols in response to a directive by PM Srettha Thavisin to upgrade security for tourists in Thailand. It

I suppose the Tourists will have to treat the piles of Elephant crap as Roundabouts

[Skeptic7]

38 minutes ago, wealthychef said:

I can't believe anyone is negative about this.  It's absolutely quintessential Thailand and is fabulous from my perspective.  If you hate this you are in the wrong damned country for sure.  

Accumulated your wealth as a chef. Cooking up tortured then slaughtered, decaying animal carcasses, their body fluids and embryos. No surprise you have no problem endorsing further abuse and exploitation. 🤬

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Yes. So far he's introducing a farang income tax

What farang income tax?

I know of the proposed one starting next year for everyone but a farang income tax?

[wealthychef]

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

 

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

So you're a big fan of animal abuse.   You may want to research what it takes to make an elephant fear man, so that it can be controlled.

Yes, super huge fan, kind of like you are fan of getting into internet arguments, right?  

[KhunLA]

8 minutes ago, wealthychef said:

Yes, super huge fan, kind of like you are fan of getting into internet arguments, right?  

I call them discussions, until it's obvious the other party is simply a troll, and attacks the messenger instead of the message, then simply put them on the ignore list.

 

Suggesting you do a little research, to rid your ignorance, isn't exactly argumentative.  You're never to old to learn.

 

BYE BYE

[Bangkok Barry]

11 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

What farang income tax?

I know of the proposed one starting next year for everyone but a farang income tax?

Everyone includes farangs, does it not? Whereas there was none before. An 'adjustment' is being made.

[Muzzique]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The Royal Thai Police is turning to elephant patrols ..... ...to upgrade security for tourists

 

I can see the planning meeting now

 

 

Chief - "Crime is going up in Lopburi, we need a unique way to bring it down. Any ideas guys?"

 

Pothead PC 1 - " Elephants"

 

Chief - "BRILLIANT!, Roll me another spliff while we hammer out the details"

 

Pothead PC 2 - " I think we should have have one officer on top looking like the fairy on a Christmas tree and we can hire Canadian Mounties to control them"

 

Pothead PC 1 - "WOW Man... That is WAY Cool!!!"

 

 

 

And so the idea was born... And they all lived happily ever after

 

 

 

 

[1happykamper]

Elephants are an "upgrade"? Ohh geeeez 55555

[Grumpy one]

Will the elephants be wearing a working red light and reflectors on their rear ends at night? 🤐

[ujayujay]

Thai romantic 

[SunsetT]

Bejesus! I never knew elephants could move that fast; to reach Loburi and arrest that thief so quickly... 🙃.

[digger70]

What about doing the same as in an Normal country.

They use horses and motorbikes and push bikes and cars for patrolling Hot areas.

For sure wouldn't want elephants running around in busy places I think that that's Not very Safe. might as well drive a Bulldozer or a tank.