Asian Elephants in Thailand

Kaeng Krachan Elephant Conservation Project, Thailand
Kaeng Krachan (KKNP) is Thailand’s largest national park and is a stronghold for many of Thailand’s wildlife species, including tigers.  The park forms a large area of protected forest on the border with Myanmar and is thought to contain a regionally important population of Asian elephants. However, human–elephant conflict (HEC) is threatening the long-term security of KKNP’s elephant population.  WCS works in KKNP to protect the elephant population, reduce HEC, and to take the lessons learned there to other sites in Asia.

The Human Aspect
Human–elephant conflict is a major problem around KKNP and is having a detrimental affect on both the people and the wild elephants that live in the area. The most common form of HEC is crop raiding by elephants, which can be a major burden for farmers as crops are destroyed, human dwellings can be flattened, and people can often get hurt and even killed.

Threats
Threats to Kaeng Krachan’s wildlife are habitat destruction, presence of domestic cattle, poaching, and HEC. HEC in particular generates ill will towards the park and can lead to killing of elephants. In response, WCS has run a number of wildlife protection and conservation training courses for KKNP staff. They include HEC assessment methods; law enforcement techniques; navigation skills using map, compass, GPS; and community relationships. Participants gained an opportunity to apply their knowledge and experience in practical field situations. Future courses will address HEC mitigation methods and involve local farmers as well as park staff.

WCS Activities
WCS is in the process of mapping the distribution of natural water sources and saltlicks, assessing elephant abundance and distribution in KKNP, and quantifying the levels of HEC in and around the park.  The data we gather on the spatial and temporal distribution of crop raiding by elephants will help us answer the important questions “why, when, and where do elephants raid crops?” We have already discussed new approaches for reducing HEC with farmers in a series of local meetings, and we are actively encouraging farmers to take up these new ideas, as well as providing them with the necessary equipment. For example, experiments by our WCS Africa Program colleagues in Zambia and Zimbabwe have shown that elephants are effectively deterred from entering crops if ropes coated in chili-laden grease are strung around the perimeter of the fields. In addition, burning dry cow dung mixed with chilies has been shown to produce an acrid smoke that helps keep elephants away from crops. We will also promote the use of a trip-wire alarm system to alert the watchers when elephants approach; and sirens, spotlights, whistles, and firecrackers will be used to frighten away elephants when they try to enter. The lessons learnt from our work in KKNP will assist farmers in reducing HEC elsewhere in Thailand and further afield in Asia and Africa.

Important Next Steps 
· We will use rigorous dung-based elephant survey methods to estimate the size and distribution of the KKNP elephant population. These surveys will allow us to assess the threats to KKNP’s elephants so that we can work with Thai authorities to improve protection measures for the park;
· We will design, implement, and evaluate an appropriate low-cost human–elephant conflict reduction strategy;
· We will test novel elephant deterrent methods such as the use of extremely powerful chilies;
· We will provide training for WCS’s Thai staff and our local partners.