WWF and National Park Department Collar 3 Elephants in Thailand to Study Human Elephant Conflict

Bangkok, January 8, 2019 -- WWF-Thailand and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation today launched the country’s first elephant collaring exercise, a proven effective measure to reduce the risk of human-elephant conflict in restricted forested area of Eastern Thailand.
 
Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation presided over the launch ceremony to announce the success of collaring exercise of 3 elephants in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary of Chachoengsao District.
 
The first 3 collars were imported from South Africa under the cooperation of WWF and the network of researchers in the Institute of Science and Conservation worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum of the United States.
 
The project is designed to study the movement of the elephants in order to prevent them coming into conflict with human populations, especially in areas designated for development and agriculture. The area where the elephants were collared is designated as a “red” area, indicating it is a high human/elephant conflict zone. The data collected from the satellite collars on the elephants will help conservationists and local communities anticipate the elephants’ movements and plan interventions to address conflict issues.
 
“These collars will be used to study the migratory movements of these elephants so as to resolve the issue of elephants coming in and destroying the agricultural lands. This is not an issue that comes down to whether elephants kill people or people kill elephants -- it’s about finding a viable solution where elephants can live in harmony with people in the future,” said Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
 
“WWF has a model in how to deal with human elephant conflict around the world that has been successful. In the case of Thai wild elephants, which is a challenge for conservation in Thailand, WWF and DNP have commenced their research work to reduce human elephant conflict from happening in the future,” said Yowalak Thiarachow, Country Director of WWF-Thailand.
 

About World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
 
For nearly 60 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature.
 
The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by more than one million members in the United States and close to five million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
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Contact information:
 
Ms. Duangkamol Wongworachan
Conservation Marketing and Communications Manager
T:  02-618-4303-05 #107
M: 092-661-9561
E: Dwongworachan@wwf.or.th

 
Ms. Kraijan Suwansanya
Marketing Communications Officer
T: 02-618-4303-05 #108
M: 085-120-1511
E: Ksuwansanya@wwf.or.th