Elephant Causes Ranger's Death, Raising Year's Total Elephant Attack Fatalities to 21

[snoop1130]

 

A forest ranger named Wallop Burapha was fatally attacked by a wild elephant at the Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in Chachoengsao's Sanam Chai Khet district on Wednesday. This incident marks the 21st elephant-related fatality this year. Additionally, six others were injured, as reported by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Burapha, age 36, was a part of the department's emergency response team, responsible for returning displaced elephants to their environments.

 

The department estimates that over 4,000 wild elephants live in forests nationwide, with the population increasing by about 8% annually. As a result of habitat reduction due to human encroachment, more elephants are moving onto farmlands in search of food, leading to human conflict. In the first two months of this year alone, elephant attacks resulted in 13 deaths, several of which occurred in Chachoengsao's Ban Na Noi.

 

Damage to various fruit orchards such as mango, durian, banana, and jack fruit has also been attributed to the elephants. In 2020, about 5,217 elephants strayed from their habitats, adversely impacting over 150,000 households across 30 provinces. Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Kanchanaburi, Prachin Buri, and Trat were the most affected areas.

 

The department is considering using drones fitted with thermal sensors to monitor the elephants as part of their preventive measures. They plan to ask the government for about one billion baht in the next fiscal year to address these issues. The funds will provide for enhancements such as increased nourishment and water supplies in the elephants' habitats, barrier construction around forest-front communities, manpower increase, the drone purchases, and compensation for damage caused by elephant activities. They aim to purchase 198 drones, costing 250,000 baht each, to aid the rapid response teams.

 

Photo courtesy of Thai PBS

 

-- 2024-05-16

 

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[Tropicalevo]

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As a result of habitat reduction due to human encroachment

and that is the real problem.

Give people the opportunity to make a real living and then they will not have to encroach in order to live off the land.