Elephants are protected wildlife species that play a vital role in Thailand’s forest ecosystems. Accurate monitoring and assessment of elephant populations, along with other wildlife species, are essential for long-term conservation planning, effective protected area management, and reducing human–wildlife conflict. Kuiburi National Park is one of Thailand’s key conservation areas, supporting a high density of wildlife such as wild elephants, gaurs, barking deer, and other species.
In November 2025, WWF Thailand, in collaboration with Kuiburi National Park, members of the Kuiburi Wildlife Ecotourism Club, the Bring the Elephant Home Foundation, and volunteers, conducted a five-day wild elephant monitoring activity from 20–25 November 2025. This activity is conducted on a ten-year cycle and took place in the area of Ranger Station Kor Ror 1 (Pa Yang), Kuiburi National Park.
The monitoring applied an integrated approach combining three methods: direct count, camera traps, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This combination aimed to provide more comprehensive data and a clearer understanding of the local elephant population and its distribution.
The main objectives of the project were to monitor and assess the size of the wild elephant population in Kuiburi National Park, to examine population trends across different seasons, and to develop a reliable population database. This information will support conservation planning, protected area management, and strategies to mitigate human–wildlife conflict more effectively.
Activity Implementation
The monitoring activities were carried out through the following key steps:
- Capacity Building and Training
Staff and participants received training on field data collection, including identifying elephant sex and age classes (Population structure), as well as recording movement directions at observation points.
- Field Observation
Observation teams were stationed at 20 designated points within the Ranger Station Kor Ror 1 (Pa Yang) area. Observations were conducted daily from 14:00 to 18:00 (the optimal period for elephant sightings) over six consecutive days.
- Support from Elephant Monitoring Teams
Data from 10 elephant rapid response teams were incorporated to enhance information on elephant movements and spatial distribution.
- Daily Briefings
Morning meetings were held each day to review findings from the previous day, exchange information, and adjust field plans based on current conditions.
- Data Compilation and Verification
All collected data were compiled and reviewed prior to the conclusion of the activity to ensure consistency and completeness.
Preliminary Outcomes and Limitations
The data collected from the survey, which applied multiple monitoring methods, is currently being verified and compiled before undergoing detailed analysis. However, preliminary findings from 20 observation points in the central zone (Payang) over the six-day survey, using the direct count method, indicate that up to 104 elephants were detected within the observation area, out of an estimated total of around 400 individuals across all areas.
The population structure based on percentage composition is as follow:
- Adult elephants 49.34%
- Adolescents 12.20%
- juveniles 19.63%
- Calves 18.83%
Further analysis also revealed a sex ratio of approximately 1 male: 2.4 females, indicating a clearly female-biased population within the surveyed area.
These preliminary results provide an important baseline for monitoring future trends in the wild elephant population. They also serve as valuable information to support long-term conservation planning and sustainable management efforts in Kuiburi National Park.
It is important to note, however, that this survey includes certain limitations, such as elephant behavior, weather conditions, seasonal factors that influence detectability, and the extent of accessible survey areas. Consequently, the number presented does not represent the total number of elephants in all of Kuiburi National Park. Instead, they reflect only the elephant groups found in the central zone (Payang), an area adjacent to local communities and considered a high-risk zone for potential human-elephant conflict. As such, these findings are most appropriate for informing conflict–mitigation planning and management strategies in boundary areas between protected areas and community land-use zones.
Twenty observation points in the central zone (Payang)
