Elephant Birth Control Sparks Debate Amid Conservation Concerns

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Conservationists have voiced strong opposition to a proposed plan by Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to administer birth control injections to wild elephants. The Soo Phua Chang Network, a leading elephant advocacy group, gathered at the ministry to express their concerns and submit a petition urging for a delay until comprehensive studies validate the contraceptive's effectiveness.

 

The proposal tasked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) with evaluating the impact of the injections on female elephants. This follows earlier research in collaboration with Chiang Mai University's Centre for Elephant and Wildlife Health, suggesting potential contraceptive effects lasting up to seven years. However, Andaman Adana, representing the network, argues that more thorough investigations are needed.

 

 

Adana stressed the importance of completing trials before rolling out widespread application, citing uncertainties related to monitoring the injections' effectiveness on free-roaming elephants. Thailand's wild elephant population, currently estimated at 4,000, grows annually by 7-8%, a rate misaligned with shrinking forest habitats.

 

Later, Pattharapol Manee-on from the DNP met with concerned protesters to discuss their worries. The debate spotlights the balance authorities seek between sustainable population control and wildlife conservation. A public hearing is set for today at the Royal Forest Department, aiming to gather insights on managing elephant populations across five eastern provinces. Results will guide further collaboration with the Centre for Elephant and Wildlife Health.

 

-- 2025-01-17

 

 

[MikeandDow]

Why do they want to give birth control to an endangered species ??? What is Thailands sustainable population control!! does not give a figure.

They need to bring these so called Elephant sanctuaries into line and STOP the cruelty,

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

Why do they want to give birth control to an endangered species ??? What is Thailands sustainable population control!! does not give a figure.

They need to bring these so called Elephant sanctuaries into line and STOP the cruelty,

 I think that the real problems are the Thai officials that are illegally changing land titles and sell off the elephant's forests.

 

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 I think that the real problems are the Thai officials that are illegally changing land titles and sell off the elephant's forests.

 

Nice...

[PomPolo]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

I think it's these lot that need birth control.

[Justanotherone]

if too many, just shoot some

 

if you cannot shoot because of fake beliefs, sell the right to some rich dude to come down one

 

elephant stew for the whole village

[MikeandDow]

2 hours ago, PomPolo said:

I think it's these lot that need birth control.

Think you are right, They have no idea!! this is Typical Thai knee jerk reaction, the tourist have stopped going to these so called Elephant sanctuarys, and are now panicking, losing money,!! They dont care about the elephants ?? They are now saying that all of the  Elephant sanctuarys should be brought up to the "Q"mark standard and All licensed camps are expected to bear the Q trademark by this year, "Do they know What they are saying !!!" 
Q is a food safety mark certified by ACFS to assure customers the product meets the standards listed in the Agriculture Product Standard Act 2008, which makes sure sourcing, components and processing methods adhere to safety standards.

The Q mark by the way is a Thai standard it is not a international standard. 

 

"Visitor safety is our priority," said Boonyakrit Pinprasong, deputy chief of the Livestock Department, which is in charge of 245 elephant camps and sanctuaries nationwide.

We have to make sure their practices on safety and animal welfare protections are in line with the law."

He said the elephant camp where the incident occurred did not register with the department and was unlicensed.

In August last year, he said, the department issued regulations for elephant facilities which could have helped prevent the tragedy.

"These are to ensure domesticated elephants are living in a good environment, have no disease, are free from any torture and that the facility conducts safety practices for visitors," he said.

"All elephant facilities are required to register and be inspected regularly,"

it is clear that this guy does not know what he is talking about Elephants for one are Not domesticated, "Amazing Thailand"
 

 

[MikeandDow]

4 minutes ago, Justanotherone said:

if too many, just shoot some

 

if you cannot shoot because of fake beliefs, sell the right to some rich dude to come down one

 

elephant stew for the whole village

Elephants are a  protected and endangered species

[asdf1234]

In my opinion the birth control injections should be given to themselves. We need more elephants, less humans

[Burma Bill]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

to administer birth control injections to wild elephants.

 

Is their sexual activity to be trunk-ated?

[PETERTHEEATER]

3 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Is their sexual activity to be trunk-ated?

I guess condoms are out of the question?

[jcmj]

Quite taking their land and they will have plenty of room to grow. Their numbers were much higher years ago and now finally on the rebound again. They were here well before the local village crop fields. 

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, jcmj said:

Quite taking their land and they will have plenty of room to grow. Their numbers were much higher years ago and now finally on the rebound again. They were here well before the local village crop fields. 

Elephants are not native to Thailand, they were introduced 500 years ago.

[Purdey]

With the news recently that the human population in Thailand may go down a lot, perhaps this will help to stop forest encroachment.

[MikeandDow]

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Elephants are not native to Thailand, they were introduced 500 years ago.

Rubbish !!!   Asian elephants are native to Thailand, They have been in Thailand for millions of years and are a significant part of Thai culture.

[kwilco]

On 1/17/2025 at 10:47 AM, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

Conservationists have voiced strong opposition to a proposed plan by Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to administer birth control injections to wild elephants. The Soo Phua Chang Network, a leading elephant advocacy group, gathered at the ministry to express their concerns and submit a petition urging for a delay until comprehensive studies validate the contraceptive's effectiveness.

 

The proposal tasked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) with evaluating the impact of the injections on female elephants. This follows earlier research in collaboration with Chiang Mai University's Centre for Elephant and Wildlife Health, suggesting potential contraceptive effects lasting up to seven years. However, Andaman Adana, representing the network, argues that more thorough investigations are needed.

 

 

 

Adana stressed the importance of completing trials before rolling out widespread application, citing uncertainties related to monitoring the injections' effectiveness on free-roaming elephants. Thailand's wild elephant population, currently estimated at 4,000, grows annually by 7-8%, a rate misaligned with shrinking forest habitats.

 

Later, Pattharapol Manee-on from the DNP met with concerned protesters to discuss their worries. The debate spotlights the balance authorities seek between sustainable population control and wildlife conservation. A public hearing is set for today at the Royal Forest Department, aiming to gather insights on managing elephant populations across five eastern provinces. Results will guide further collaboration with the Centre for Elephant and Wildlife Health.

 

-- 2025-01-17

 

 

 

 

conservation efforts are very slow in Thailand but progress has been made over the last 2 decades and then some buffoon comes up withthis idea - it just shows that the authorities still have no idea how to handle wildlife and conservation in Thailand.

[kwilco]

On 1/18/2025 at 12:42 PM, BritManToo said:

Elephants are not native to Thailand, they were introduced 500 years ago.

Asian elephants have been in Thailand for approximately 16 million years!!

[kwilco]

On 1/17/2025 at 10:47 AM, snoop1130 said:

4,000, grows annually by 7-8%, a rate misaligned with shrinking forest habitats.

7 to 8%?? - THere is no real evidence to support this and the BIG PROBLEM is WHY ARE THE FORESTS SHRINKING?????

[MikeandDow]

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

7 to 8%?? - THere is no real evidence to support this and the BIG PROBLEM is WHY ARE THE FORESTS SHRINKING?????

This is correct !    And Why the forests are shrinking !! Illegal logging and agriculture, This has meant death to the Thai elephant, resulting in the plummeting numbers of the animal, placing them on the endangered species list.

And do Thais really care about the conservation of the Elephants  very little if there is no money in it  Thais dont care