Tourists warned on encounters with elephants

[rooster59]

Tourists warned on encounters with elephants

PRATCH RUJIVANAROM,
SONTHANAPHON INCHAN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: KHAO YAI National Park has warned tourists not to take photos of wild elephants, saying it is dangerous and slows traffic.

Meanwhile, the problem of garbage in the park has been reduced, thanks to a concerted campaign against littering.

Tourists travelling to the park for the New Year holidays may have a great opportunity to encounter wild elephants. However, Khao Yai National Park chief Kanchit Srinoppawan cautioned yesterday that it was dangerous to get too close to these animals or photograph them because this can stress them out and they might attack.

"Wild elephants are quite commonly seen in Khao Yai National Park. They are usually seen crossing the roads, and it is always very exciting for tourists from urban areas. However, I suggest that we should not interfere with them and should drive past them carefully," Kanchit said.

He said that during this long |holiday, the roads in the park were clogged with heavy traffic because more than 17,000 tourists visit every day, and part of the highway between Prachin Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima is also situated within the national park.

So, he asked drivers to take extra care when in the park area, because wild animals often cross the roads, and they should not feed or take photos of them.

About the garbage problem, Kanchit said things had improved this New Year after an intensive campaign to encourage tourists to pack up their garbage and take it back home with them - or leave it in the rest areas in exchange for souvenirs.

"I can see that during this New Year festival, tourists are being more conscientious, and many of them collect their waste and do not litter."

During the festive period, female Khao Yai staff dressed in traditional Thai costumes have urged tourists to drive carefully and collect their garbage.

Bags of waste could be exchanged for snacks and souvenirs at the national park's rest areas before people left the park.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Tourists-warned-on-encounters-with-elephants-30275998.html

-- The Nation 2016-01-02

[halloween]

Most Thais see nothing wrong with throwing garbage out the car window. I had to make it an order (hai dai) rather than a request to stop mine from doing so, and they didn't understand why until they came to Oz. The wife actually asked "How is the country so clean?"

BTW stay away from any elephant if you have been drinking alcohol.

[Dibbler]

If there are fines that are enforced then people will comply with the directive to dispose thoughtfully of litter, otherwise no-one will care.... same in any country, not just Thailand. By the way, the number quoted vastly exceeds the park's carrying capacity so the DNP has violated their own regulations letting in that number of visitors. It's pure greed that they did not close gates well below 10,000 on any day.

[nuananddon]

Throwing trash out the window or off the motorcycle seems to be a very bad habit to break here. The wife and I always have treats for the kids and they just throw the wrappers on the ground, even after numberous pleas to use the waste baskets, and the thing that really gets us is the parents don't say a word to them. The Thais seem to be very proud of their country so why do they think nothing of throwing their trash on ground to make their beautiful country look like a dump?

[steven100]

those pesky farangs are at it again !! you don't take snap shots of elephants !

unless it's a selfie

[stickylies]

returnable deposit on all plastic & glass bottles (including those annoying small lipo and redbull etc bottles!) of lets say 5 baht would be a perfect start. not nanny state mentality, CLEAN state mentality.

[trogers]

Like the warnings when encountering wild bears, drop to the ground and pretend you are a banana...

[tuanku]

Most Thais see nothing wrong with throwing garbage out the car window. I had to make it an order (hai dai) rather than a request to stop mine from doing so, and they didn't understand why until they came to Oz. The wife actually asked "How is the country so clean?"

BTW stay away from any elephant if you have been drinking alcohol.

And particularly stay away from any elephant that has been drinking alcohol.

BTW alcohol is not allowed nor sold within National Parks

[hkt83100]

Most Thais see nothing wrong with throwing garbage out the car window. I had to make it an order (hai dai) rather than a request to stop mine from doing so, and they didn't understand why until they came to Oz. The wife actually asked "How is the country so clean?"

BTW stay away from any elephant if you have been drinking alcohol.

If your car got power windows, chances are high it has also a main switch to turn them all off. Problem solved, because probably no-one will open then door while driving...

[simon43]

I has the same problem with the ex's family and kids. They just throw away the sweet wrappers. So I said 'litter and you get no more sweets'. They promised not to litter again.

So I gave them more sweets and they threw away the sweet wrappers on the ground...

Now I don't buy them sweets and they all call me kee niao

Darwinism...

[Broeno]

Throwing trash out the window or off the motorcycle seems to be a very bad habit to break here. The wife and I always have treats for the kids and they just throw the wrappers on the ground, even after numberous pleas to use the waste baskets, and the thing that really gets us is the parents don't say a word to them. The Thais seem to be very proud of their country so why do they think nothing of throwing their trash on ground to make their beautiful country look like a dump?

They are proud of Thailand being a trashbin?

[stickylies]

Most Thais see nothing wrong with throwing garbage out the car window. I had to make it an order (hai dai) rather than a request to stop mine from doing so, and they didn't understand why until they came to Oz. The wife actually asked "How is the country so clean?"

BTW stay away from any elephant if you have been drinking alcohol.

And particularly stay away from any elephant that has been drinking alcohol.

BTW alcohol is not allowed nor sold within National Parks

555. just like it's not allowed in temple unless it's hidden in the soooooooooo obvious oishi bottle TIT!

[jaywalker]

In other news, tourists were warned to:

-not run with scissors.

-not to stick their hands in fans, and

-not to mess with this guy.

[jaywalker]

If there are fines that are enforced then people will comply with the directive to dispose thoughtfully of litter, otherwise no-one will care.... same in any country, not just Thailand. By the way, the number quoted vastly exceeds the park's carrying capacity so the DNP has violated their own regulations letting in that number of visitors. It's pure greed that they did not close gates well below 10,000 on any day.

Good thought, but some of those roads are just for poor saps just trying to get from point A to B.

---------

Black bears got EXTREME protection legislation in Florida a few decades back, and many roads (like the one I grew up on) are now surrounded by Florida State Wildlife Refuges = the wildlife became a bit of a road hazard.

Car vs. bear encounters were becoming all too common, with losers on both sides.

They installed several overpasses with game tunnels and game fences (14 foot tall chain link) for a half mile or so in each direction on both sides of the road.

I recall scoffing at the idea when it was first introduced, but surprisingly enough, it helped! The wildlife (deer, bears, hogs etc) got used to a place where they could co-exist with traffic.

My Mom hit a HUGE hog at night once. Ripped the entire front end of her car apart, but she was OK. Had it been an elephant, no way.

I suppose a game fence for elephants would be rather Jurassic Park-ish though.

I wonder if the powers that be have ever asked Kenya & other African countries for ideas?

I somehow doubt it.

[iReason]

"things had improved this New Year after an intensive campaign to encourage tourists to pack up their garbage and take it back home with them"

Does that now apply to Thai Fairs?

[Ulic]

Throwing trash out the window or off the motorcycle seems to be a very bad habit to break here. The wife and I always have treats for the kids and they just throw the wrappers on the ground, even after numberous pleas to use the waste baskets, and the thing that really gets us is the parents don't say a word to them. The Thais seem to be very proud of their country so why do they think nothing of throwing their trash on ground to make their beautiful country look like a dump?

I remember growing up in Canada around 1968-70. The US motor ways were littered with paper

and bags /food wrappers. Canada was heading in the same direction. While driving along my older

brother about 14 threw a candy wrapper out the window. My father went off. He pulled off onto the

highways soft shoulder, gave my brother a dressing down, and told him to get out and go and pick

up his litter. He had to walk back about 600 yards pick up whatever he found that resembled the

sweet wrapper he had tossed out the window and bring it back to my father. Problem solved, it

never happened again by any one in the family.

On another note at this time MacDonald's started a massive "pick up clean up" campaign. A catchy

jingle, and anti litter campaign that also included bussing ones own meal tray, putting your

garbage in the trash bin and leaving the tray on top. This advertising campaign went on for many

years. It was remarkably effective and I am convinced is the biggest reason for helping clean up

the roadways of North America. To this day the North American habit is to buss your own fast food

table, putting the waste in the bin and tray on top. All the other restaurants benefitted from the

MacDonald's campaign which was more public service announcement than selling campaign.

I really would love to see them do the same throughout Asia. Change the habits of Asian youth

that will really make a change long term. "Pick Up Clean Up"

[jaywalker]

Throwing trash out the window or off the motorcycle seems to be a very bad habit to break here. The wife and I always have treats for the kids and they just throw the wrappers on the ground, even after numberous pleas to use the waste baskets, and the thing that really gets us is the parents don't say a word to them. The Thais seem to be very proud of their country so why do they think nothing of throwing their trash on ground to make their beautiful country look like a dump?

I remember growing up in Canada around 1968-70. The US motor ways were littered with paper

and bags /food wrappers. Canada was heading in the same direction. While driving along my older

brother about 14 threw a candy wrapper out the window. My father went off. He pulled off onto the

highways soft shoulder, gave my brother a dressing down, and told him to get out and go and pick

up his litter. He had to walk back about 600 yards pick up whatever he found that resembled the

sweet wrapper he had tossed out the window and bring it back to my father. Problem solved, it

never happened again by any one in the family.

On another note at this time MacDonald's started a massive "pick up clean up" campaign. A catchy

jingle, and anti litter campaign that also included bussing ones own meal tray, putting your

garbage in the trash bin and leaving the tray on top. This advertising campaign went on for many

years. It was remarkably effective and I am convinced is the biggest reason for helping clean up

the roadways of North America. To this day the North American habit is to buss your own fast food

table, putting the waste in the bin and tray on top. All the other restaurants benefitted from the

MacDonald's campaign which was more public service announcement than selling campaign.

I really would love to see them do the same throughout Asia. Change the habits of Asian youth

that will really make a change long term. "Pick Up Clean Up"

Not sure how the 'Elephants are dangerous' thread turned into a litter thread, but I DO HATE litter (I'm no tree hugger either).

The bussing/dumping of one's own meal tray at fast food joints makes a lot of sense the way you explain it.

I was born in '67 so don't recall too much of that public awareness campaign.

I do know that I got in the habit of leaving my garbage on the table at fast food joints in Asia, as it seemed to take away from the workers' rice bowl if I did their job of cleaning up after me.

I recently had dinner with my 83 year old Aunt at a Captain D's in Georgia (her idea), and got up and left all my junk on the table.

She reminded me we were supposed to dump it.

Reverse culture shock after decades in Asia.

I can see where Micky D's could influence the masses now that you mention it.

[jaywalker]

"things had improved this New Year after an intensive campaign to encourage tourists to pack up their garbage and take it back home with them"

Does that now apply to Thai Fairs?

Fairs, full moon parties, Songkran, New Years etc are different from everyday littering.

Regiments of cleaners are employed to clean up after big events like fairs.

You should see the infield at the Daytona International Speedway after a few thousand people camp out there for a race weekend. The place is paved in Styrofoam garbage.

It's the everyday stuff that is SO unpleasant. Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches are littered with TONS of garbage 365 days a year.

My wife visited Florida, and trust me, we were in some serious country areas. Even the modest $70,000 country homes in most places were litter free.

She just said "Wow, Everybody has nice houses".

At her father's house in Surin in the dry season once and there were more plastic bags in the rice fields than you could shake a stick at.

[flyDelight]

Is the phayaan ritual of torture to break a baby elephants free spirit already forbidden and actively crackdowned?

[MiKT]

Most Thais see nothing wrong with throwing garbage out the car window. I had to make it an order (hai dai) rather than a request to stop mine from doing so, and they didn't understand why until they came to Oz. The wife actually asked "How is the country so clean?"

BTW stay away from any elephant if you have been drinking alcohol.

If your car got power windows, chances are high it has also a main switch to turn them all off. Problem solved, because probably no-one will open then door while driving...

It would appear that you have not been driving in Thailand very long!

Opening to spit whilst driving is one of the more common occurrences, let alone anything else and that's whilst moving at quite high speed.

But it's a risky move of blowback, as you may know if you have ever thrown anything out of a window of a moving vehicle, which of course I have not (5) but have had passengers do that thing (55).

My advice is to stay away from elephants full stop. its amazing how many people in Thailand alone are attacked by elephants, let alone in India and Africa.

[Mr Moo]

returnable deposit on all plastic & glass bottles (including those annoying small lipo and redbull etc bottles!) of lets say 5 baht would be a perfect start. not nanny state mentality, CLEAN state mentality.

I'm currently in Brazil and here there is a huge recycling culture.

If you drink your beer, soft drink or water and throw the can or bottle in the air it will never hit the ground. Can, bottle and even paper / cardboard collectors cruise the beaches and streets looking for waste containers and will even stand patiently next you while you finish yours so that they can collect the can /bottle.

[Dumbastheycome]

If there are fines that are enforced then people will comply with the directive to dispose thoughtfully of litter, otherwise no-one will care.... same in any country, not just Thailand. By the way, the number quoted vastly exceeds the park's carrying capacity so the DNP has violated their own regulations letting in that number of visitors. It's pure greed that they did not close gates well below 10,000 on any day.

Good thought, but some of those roads are just for poor saps just trying to get from point A to B.

---------

Black bears got EXTREME protection legislation in Florida a few decades back, and many roads (like the one I grew up on) are now surrounded by Florida State Wildlife Refuges = the wildlife became a bit of a road hazard.

Car vs. bear encounters were becoming all too common, with losers on both sides.

They installed several overpasses with game tunnels and game fences (14 foot tall chain link) for a half mile or so in each direction on both sides of the road.

I recall scoffing at the idea when it was first introduced, but surprisingly enough, it helped! The wildlife (deer, bears, hogs etc) got used to a place where they could co-exist with traffic.

My Mom hit a HUGE hog at night once. Ripped the entire front end of her car apart, but she was OK. Had it been an elephant, no way.

I suppose a game fence for elephants would be rather Jurassic Park-ish though.

I wonder if the powers that be have ever asked Kenya & other African countries for ideas?

I somehow doubt it.

Kenya ( now named otherwise) uses electric fences... or tried to.The elephants sussed the problem in many places and just dumped a tree or two across them . Just a clear statement of animal rights I guess.

[ratcatcher]

If there are fines that are enforced then people will comply with the directive to dispose thoughtfully of litter, otherwise no-one will care.... same in any country, not just Thailand. By the way, the number quoted vastly exceeds the park's carrying capacity so the DNP has violated their own regulations letting in that number of visitors. It's pure greed that they did not close gates well below 10,000 on any day.

Good thought, but some of those roads are just for poor saps just trying to get from point A to B.

---------

Black bears got EXTREME protection legislation in Florida a few decades back, and many roads (like the one I grew up on) are now surrounded by Florida State Wildlife Refuges = the wildlife became a bit of a road hazard.

Car vs. bear encounters were becoming all too common, with losers on both sides.

They installed several overpasses with game tunnels and game fences (14 foot tall chain link) for a half mile or so in each direction on both sides of the road.

I recall scoffing at the idea when it was first introduced, but surprisingly enough, it helped! The wildlife (deer, bears, hogs etc) got used to a place where they could co-exist with traffic.

My Mom hit a HUGE hog at night once. Ripped the entire front end of her car apart, but she was OK. Had it been an elephant, no way.

I suppose a game fence for elephants would be rather Jurassic Park-ish though.

I wonder if the powers that be have ever asked Kenya & other African countries for ideas?

I somehow doubt it.

Kenya ( now named otherwise) uses electric fences... or tried to.The elephants sussed the problem in many places and just dumped a tree or two across them . Just a clear statement of animal rights I guess.

"Kenya ( now named otherwise) ......"

Otherwise known as...................The Republic of Kenya.

[Artisi]

It's not only encounters with elephants that tourists need to be careful of..........

[Spaniel]

Here are a few "elephant" pics taken at Khao Yai NP.

[springheeled jack]

I would think waste bins are the answer to the garbage problem if they are there people will use them .

[RubbaJohnny]

Always carry a jumbo condo to be on the safe side, while a it may be a brief affair to the casual tourist an elephant never forgets!

[sapson]

Such touching concern for tourists!

How about a similar article from TAT warning of the presence of wild animal on the beaches.

Tourists warned on encounters with beach Jet-Ski vendors.

Tourists have been warned of renting jet skis from beach vendors due to the possible loss of money and damage to body parts.

They are advised to pay up at all times and not to expect any help from tourist police and be aware that the RTP are not there to offer assistance but to simply facilitate the extortion.

[watcharacters]

Most Thais see nothing wrong with throwing garbage out the car window. I had to make it an order (hai dai) rather than a request to stop mine from doing so, and they didn't understand why until they came to Oz. The wife actually asked "How is the country so clean?"

BTW stay away from any elephant if you have been drinking alcohol.

I have never been a litterer but Thailand does create its own problem when it comes to staying clean. Other than gas stations for instance, when on the road, I rarely see anywhere for disposing of trash, Or in a place such as a zoo or public attraction trash cans are a rarity. I guess it cuts down on the labor costs of emptying them.

[cyberfarang]