Bangkok, 21 March 2024 – Conflicts between wild elephants and humans have been an ongoing challenge for communities living in close proximity to these magnificent creatures. This conflict stems partially from human encroachment into elephant habitats, but also happens because elephants are very smart and have identified farms and plantations as good sources of food. When human settlement and wildlife habitats overlap, confrontations are inevitable. Efforts to alleviate these conflicts have been ongoing, and in Kuiburi, significant progress has been made in managing these conflicts through collaborative conservation efforts. One of the notable milestones is the remarkable reduction in wild elephant incursions into agricultural land. In 2023, the SMART Early Warning System reported a total of 1,104 elephant incursions into villagers’ crops. However, actual damage occurred only four times, accounting for only 0.39% of the crops — a notable decrease compared to figures from 2022 and 2021. At the heart of these achievements lies the power of collaboration between WWF-Thailand, a non-profit nature conservation organization, government partners including the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), surrounding communities, and private sector partners. Unpacking the insights of these conservation efforts with us is Mr. Naret Sueaturien, Manager of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex Wildlife Conservation Project at WWF-Thailand, who has been dedicated to this project.
Mr. Naret stated that “Over the past year, what kept us going is the smile on the villagers’ faces and their appreciation for our efforts.” With his extensive time spent on-site, Mr.Naret emphasized the personal connection he has forged with the villagers on the site, likening it to family ties. He stresses that witnessing the destruction of villagers’ crops feels like seeing his own family’s produce affected. At the same time, as a conservationist, his aim is to facilitate peaceful coexistence between both sides sharing the same home.
Delving into WWF’s Collaboration to manage Human-Elephant Conflicts in Kuiburi
Managing human-elephant
conflicts in Kuiburi involves a multifaceted approach divided into three key components:
- Wildlife Monitoring: WWF works with the DNP to employ innovative methods such as the SMART Patrol to monitor wildlife dispersal patterns and forest health. WWF provides training, equipment, and food for patrols. Additionally, camera traps are strategically installed to monitor wildlife movement, while collaboration with True Corporation has resulted in the development of the SMART Early Warning System. This system alerts rapid response teams to approaching elephants, enabling timely intervention to push back wildlife from agricultural areas. Furthermore, DNA collection from elephant dung is playing a part in identifying individual elephants and contributes to wildlife population data. Cutting-edge tools like the Thermone Drone are utilized for real-time monitoring and adaptive approaches on-site.
- Nutrition Sources Development: Ensuring adequate food, water and nutritional resources within elephant habitats is crucial to preventing them from encroaching into villagers’ crops. WWF focuses on developing these sources in the park by creating grass plots, salt licks, and waterholes, managing weed growth, and sowing grass seeds. Regular maintenance of salt licks and waterholes ensures their effectiveness in sustaining wildlife populations.
- Strengthening the Resilience of the Surrounding Community: WWF empowers the surrounding community through various initiatives, including local tourism, where villagers earn income from being local guides for tourists visiting Kuiburi National Park. Additionally, villagers engage in producing sustainable goods such as paper made from elephant dung, tie-dye, and candles. Farmers are also actively involved in pushing elephants back and improving elephant habitats, fostering a deeper understanding of the work being done on elephants and conservation efforts.
Facing Challenges
Despite ongoing conservation efforts, challenges persist in wildlife conservation, since many of these animals exhibit remarkable intelligence in adapting to management measures. For instance, elephants may change their routes to avoid being pushed back into the forest and away from agricultural land. Therefore, it is imperative for the conservation team to study and understand their behavior, continually adjusting strategies accordingly. Ensuring the authenticity and transparency of statistical data poses another challenge, as accurate information is vital for effective conservation management. Moreover, acting as mediators between national park authorities, the community and other organizations requires effective communication and conflict resolution skills to address misunderstandings and minimize conflicts.
Human-Elephant Conflicts Conservation Highlights
Amidst ongoing challenges, WWF remains steadfast in its commitment to overcoming obstacles and fostering a sustainable future for both humans and wildlife in Kuiburi. In 2023, the report indicated that wild elephants entered agricultural areas 3,195 times, with instances of crop destruction occurring 220 times. This represents 6.89 percent of the total number of encounters with wild elephants. In comparison, in 2022, the percentage of crop destruction caused by wild elephants was 12.36 percent. These numbers indicate an improvement in the efficiency of monitoring wild elephants in Kuiburi National Park.
Mr. Naret also stated that efforts in food sources management and other approaches have led to an increase in wildlife population in Kuiburi Forest, including elephants and gaurs, signaling positive forest health. Moreover, the collaboration between WWF, DNP, other conservation organizations, private sectors and locals to address these conflicts comprehensively extends beyond the immediate community across the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, which includes Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Kuiburi National Park, and Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park.
The Power of Collaboration
Effective management of human-elephant conflict requires collective effort and collaboration. As Mr. Naret stressed that “At WWF, we aim to be a mediator, facilitating communication between government agencies, Kuiburi National Park authorities, local communities, and other participating organizations”. This aligns with WWF’s slogan “Together Possible,” with WWF advocating for joint efforts to address the issue sustainably.
Join us this month for Thai Elephant Day 2024 as we embark on the Kuiburi Wildlife Conservation Journey. Together, let’s build a sustainable future between humans and elephants. Explore our docu-series, created to celebrate the power of collaboration, and discover more about our ‘We’re Ele-friends’ campaign on WWF Thailand Facebook.
เกี่ยวกับ WWF ประเทศไทย
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in nearly 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. WWF has had a presence in Thailand since 1995. WWF-Thailand works with government, civil society, and private sector partners to address the threats to biodiversity and to move towards a greener nature-based future. Learn more at www.wwf.or.th.
ข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับ WWF ประเทศไทย สามารถดูรายละเอียดได้ที่:
Facebook: WWF Thailand
Instagram: wwfthailand
Website: www.wwf.or.th
Twitter: @WWFThailand
YouTube: WWF Thailand Channel
LINE Official: @wwffoundation
สอบถามรายละเอียดเพิ่มเติมกรุณาติดต่อ ที่ปรึกษาด้านประชาสัมพันธ์: บริษัท วีโร่ พับลิค รีเลชั่นส์ จํากัด
คุณวิมลพรรณ นามพาโชค (กล้วย)
อีเมล wimonphan@vero-asean.com
โทรศัพท์ 096-669-9746
