Shorter visiting hours in Khao Yai reduces stress on wild animals

[webfact]

Shorter visiting hours in Khao Yai reduces stress on wild animals



NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 17 April 2015 (NNT) – Khao Yai National Park has reported more frequent sightings of wild animals along tourist routes after the park shortened the viewing hours in February.

Khao Yai National Park chief Kanchit Srinoppawan said that restricting opening hours was necessary as the rapidly increasing number of vehicles was found to have brought on stress among wild elephants and other roaming animals, many of which habitually cross the tourist routes to search for food. The park is home to more than 300 wild elephants

Khao Yai National Park has reduced the closing time from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. since February 5th to lessen the number of incoming vehicles. A massive influx of visitors over the past decade has inevitably paved the way for occasional close encounters between tourists and elephants. Angry jumbos sometimes attack visitors’ vehicles.

According to the park’s chief, sightings of more wild animals daring to chill out on the tourist routes over the past few months indicates that the beasts have become more relaxed. The park has set up a special team tasked with studying the behavior of the animals, while the new operating schedule is in effect. The results of the study will be applied to management of other natural attractions.


-- NNT 2015-04-17

[mca]

According to the park’s chief, sightings of more wild animals daring to chill out on the tourist routes over the past few months indicates that the beasts have become more relaxed

"Another Banana Daiquiri Jumbo my good man?"

[mike324]

Perhaps banned fireworks within 100km of the parks will do much good too! Its absurd to see fireworks going off during big holidays so close to the national park.

[smutcakes]

What would cause less stress is not allowing construction of giant cement factories, and processing plants.

Driving south today through the rolling hills, suddenly there are vast swathes of towering factories souring the whole area.

Forget a private dwelling here and there, these are the things that need to be stopped and kill the wildlife.

[ToddinChonburi]

The real ? is how many Elephants can this park hold and feed ? Just like the monkey's and the soi dogs. you have to many and bad things will happen.