Wild elephants are often in close contact with farmers, and
sometimes are killed to protect crops. A new plan would provide
more land for
elephants to help save diminishing numbers
of the jumbos in the East region.
(Photo courtesy WWF Thailand)
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant
Conservation is proposing
to buy land from farmers and develop
it into a "food paradise" for
wild elephants to stop crops
being ravaged.
The eastern forest complex would be the pilot project.
The eastern forest complex would be the pilot project.
Songtham Suksawang, director of the project,
said the
increasing number of wild elephants in the eastern forest
complex has
forced them out of the forest to invade
agricultural zones in search of food.
In
many cases this has led to deadly encounters between
hungry elephants and angry
locals with guns. He said the
department will discuss the issue with
companies that
benefit from the forest, since all use water coming from
the
eastern forest complex to support their operations in
the industrial estates
located in the eastern part of the country.
“We will talk to East Water Group [which sells water to
“We will talk to East Water Group [which sells water to
industrial estates] and
other giant companies to join in
creating a fund, from which we can draw money
to buy
land from locals to plant food for wild elephants,” he said.
He said the fund would show appreciation to
nature and give
something back to the ecological system. The department is
eyeing more than 1,300 rai linking Khao Ang Rue Nai
Wildlife Sanctuary and Khao
Chamao-Khao Wong
National Park, now occupied by locals, as the elephant
"food paradise".
The eastern forest complex consists of Khao
Ang Rue Nai
Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary,
Khao
Chamao-Khao Wong National Park, Khao Khitchakut
and Khao Sip Ha Chan, covering
more than 1.3 million rai
in five provinces — Chachoengsao, Sa Kaeo,
Chantaburi,
Rayong and Chon Buri.
Before 1961, lowland forests, the natural
habitat of wild
elephants, covered over 16 million rai but most of this has
been turned into agricultural zones.
Only 1.3 million rai is left for around 380
wild elephants,
which have increased in number from 150 in 1998.
It is estimated
the wild elephant population has risen
by 5% a year there.
Mr
Songtham was confident the 1,300 rai will become a
tourist attraction for people
to come and see wild elephants.
He said this would make income for people
living nearby,
similar to what has been done at Kuiburi National Park
in
Prachuap Khiri Khan where wild elephant and gaur
safaris are popular among
tourists.
Gen Surat Worarak, secretary of the Five
Provinces
Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation, suggested the
department
come up with clear plans to deal with
elephant-human encounters.
News,General,Bangkok Post, 19 February 2016.
I agree with the “food paradise” plan for
wild elephants
because it will stop the problem from wild elephants
to damage the crops and also it will help
the villager nearby
the food paradise have occupation and more
revenue if
the food paradise is plan for tourism too.
Sincerely Yours.
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