NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Jan 8 (TNA) – The head of Thab Lan National Park has expressed concern over a rapidly growing elephant population that is increasingly venturing into nearby agricultural areas, causing significant damage to crops.
Drone footage captured at night has revealed massive herds of up to a hundred elephants leaving the park to forage for food in human settlements around Nakhon Ratchasima province. This has been an ongoing issue for several months, causing significant distress to local farmers.
Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns have led to a decline in natural food sources within the park, forcing elephants to seek food elsewhere. Additionally, the animals have developed a taste for farmers’ crops, such as corn and sugarcane, which are more palatable and readily available.
Successful conservation efforts have led to this unprecedented population growth.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is considering various options to manage the growing elephant population, including potential legal changes to regulate elephant movement and exploring reproductive control measures.
Studies estimate that the elephant population within Thab Lan National Park has been increasing by 8% annually, with the actual number likely higher. Current estimates suggest that there are now at least 400 elephants residing in the park.
To address this pressing issue, park officials are working to create additional food sources within the park, restore degraded grasslands, and implement various deterrent measures, including physical barriers and human patrols. They are also exploring ways to compensate farmers for crop losses. -819 (TNA)
