It’s Time to Act

1.

Humans and Elephants: A Ticking Time Bomb

What the Khao Yai elephant response teams feared most has finally happened.

Around 4 p.m. on June 19, a cornfield owner in Ban Khao Wong, Nong Nam Daeng Subdistrict, Pak Chong District, grabbed a shotgun and fired into the air to scare off Plai Biang Lek—a powerful, young wild elephant who had wandered into his farmland. Despite the presence of volunteer rangers following the elephant and the fact that it had already left the cultivated area, the man continued to fire several more shots after it.

No one can say for sure what the shooter’s true intent was. But two days later, volunteers noticed two wounds on Plai Biang Lek’s body. It remains unclear what caused them, as the elephant had covered its skin in mud, making it difficult for veterinarians to examine closely.

If the wounds become infected, pus will likely appear within five days. If not, the injuries may simply dry and heal on their own.

This marked the first act of violence from a local resident in the Khao Yai area—and, coincidentally, the first time Plai Biang Lek began to show increasingly aggressive behavior.

Could it be that Ban Khao Wong, with nearly all of its land dedicated to agriculture, is at the root of this growing tension? For villagers whose livelihoods depend on crops, a wild elephant’s intrusion isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a direct threat. Without clear methods to safely deter these massive animals, some locals have resorted to violence: small explosives, firecrackers, even gunfire.

These tactics, while born out of fear and frustration, are beginning to reshape the elephants' behavior. What were once cautious foragers are now learning to confront—rather than retreat from—human threats.

Plai Biang Lek is one of nine wild elephants known to have ventured beyond the forest boundaries of Khao Yai into nearby human settlements. Still a young bull, he remains captivated by the new landscape—especially the lush farmlands of Ban Khao Wong, where an abundance of crops has drawn him to linger. Since early June, he’s made his home along the forest edge at the base of the Wong hills. Though the straight-line distance from the park to the village is only 5 to 8 kilometers, the actual path the elephant takes stretches over 20 kilometers.

The recent clash between humans and elephants has deeply unsettled the volunteer teams on the ground. It’s not just the risk of elephants hurting people—or people hurting elephants. There is a growing fear that tensions among villagers themselves could also escalate, especially when survival instincts collide with conservation goals.

That’s why urgent action is needed from all responsible agencies—whether it’s the Ministry of Interior, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, or local authorities. Clear lines of responsibility and cooperation must be established. Without unity and coordinated direction, the next loss—of life, of trust, of balance—may come too quickly to stop.

2.

Pak Chong District Must Act Swiftly to Establish Clear Operational Guidelines

The latest meeting to address the issue of wild elephants straying beyond the borders of Khao Yai National Park took place on June 8. Organized by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Thailand, along with the Ecological Sustainability Association, Khao Yai National Park, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Rak Khao Yai Group, the Freeland Foundation, and the Wildlife and Environment Conservation Group of Khao Yai, the gathering brought together a wide range of stakeholders.

Among those present were village head representatives, officials from Conservation Office 1, and leading elephant specialist Dr. Panthep Rattanakorn. Their goal: to seek long-term, sustainable solutions to the rising human-elephant conflict in the Khao Yai region.

Initial Agreements and Action Points from the Meeting Included the Following:

Issuance of New Volunteer Ranger ID Cards

All volunteers working to protect national parks, wildlife, and plant species—including those from Pong Talong and Moo Si Subdistricts—must be reissued official identification cards under the Volunteer Ranger Program.

Formation of Village Security Units (Chor Ror Bor)

Under the authority of 15 local subdistrict chiefs (kamnan), village heads will coordinate with them to establish Village Security Units to support the current elephant surveillance volunteers.

Integration of AI Surveillance Technology

AI-powered cameras will be installed along known elephant pathways. A centralized monitoring center will oversee data collection and coordinate responses.

Budget Allocation for Surveillance Equipment

Dedicated funding will be proposed for the procurement of surveillance cameras and AI equipment to enhance real-time monitoring capabilities.

Formalization of Volunteer Operating Protocols

Operational guidelines and cooperation agreements for elephant patrol volunteers in Pak Chong District will be compiled and submitted to the district chief for formal endorsement, ensuring clarity, consistency, and lawful enforcement in future operations.

The following 18 guidelines emerged from a capacity-building workshop held under the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Network Year 2 Project, part of a broader research and development initiative aimed at building a sustainable model for human-elephant coexistence in Thailand.

These measures outline the official duties, conduct, and training requirements for community-based elephant surveillance and deterrence volunteers:

1.Official Recognition and Legal Mandate

All community volunteers engaged in elephant surveillance and deterrence must be formally recognized by Khao Yai National Park. This certification enables them to operate legally under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019 and the 2024 decree on decentralized authority for local administrations.

2.Mandatory Training and Local Vetting

Volunteers must complete at least two training sessions provided by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation before being appointed as official assistants. Selection is overseen by both volunteer team leaders and village heads, in coordination with Pak Chong District and Khao Yai National Park.

3.Zero Tolerance for Alcohol or Intoxicants

Consumption or possession of alcohol or intoxicating substances during duty is strictly prohibited to ensure the safety and professionalism of all operations.

4.Coordinated Elephant Movement Across Villages

When driving elephants away from community areas, volunteers must follow agreed-upon routes mapped out between neighboring villages. Rapid response teams from Khao Yai National Park will coordinate efforts when elephants cross jurisdictional boundaries, helping to avoid inter-village conflict, crop damage, or disputes over property loss.

5.Physical Readiness Is Required

Only volunteers in good health may report for duty. Those feeling unwell or showing signs of illness are strictly prohibited from participating in field operations to ensure the safety of both the team and the animals.

6.Duty Must Be Declared Before Deployment

Before beginning any patrol, volunteers are required to inform both the village head and the designated wildlife surveillance officers from the Department of National Parks. Notification may be made via phone or approved communication platforms such as Line.

7.Respect for Private Property and Land Rights

Volunteers must not enter unauthorized areas, particularly private land, without prior permission. Entry must be approved either by the landowner or communicated through the village head to ensure proper consent is obtained.

8.Minimum Team Size for Field Operations

For safety reasons, no fewer than three volunteers should engage in any elephant deterrence or guidance operation. This ensures mutual support and reduces the risk of injury to individuals.

9.Maintain a Safe Distance at All Times

To protect both people and elephants, volunteers must keep a distance of no less than 50–100 meters from the animals and refrain from provoking or agitating them during movement operations.

10.Clear Chain of Command

All volunteers must follow instructions from the designated team leader and the head of the official elephant surveillance unit. This structure ensures consistency and accountability during joint operations.

11.No Firearms or Violence Permitted

Volunteers are strictly forbidden from using firearms, inflicting harm, or employing any form of violence against wild elephants under any circumstance.

12.No Livestreaming or Unauthorized Filming

Unrelated individuals are not allowed to livestream or deliberately photograph elephants during operations, as it may disrupt the team's efforts and pose serious safety risks. Only brief video clips or photos for official reports—captured by trained volunteers or staff—are permitted.

13.No Untrained or Unrelated Persons in the Field

Bringing children or unauthorized individuals into elephant deterrence zones is strictly prohibited. Only trained personnel may enter such areas during operations.

14.Each Operation Must Have a Clear Objective

Every patrol or deterrence effort must have a defined goal: to guide the elephant safely away from human settlements and toward secure, non-confrontational zones—ensuring safety for both humans and elephants.

15.Post-Operation Reporting Is Mandatory

Volunteers must report the outcomes of each operation—along with the last known location of the elephant—to both the village head and the wildlife surveillance officers from the Department of National Parks. Timely updates ensure accurate tracking and coordination.

16.Monthly Volunteer Briefings

A monthly meeting is required for all volunteers. These sessions provide an opportunity to review past operations, assess challenges, and refine future strategies for human-elephant conflict management.

17.Identification Must Be Clearly Displayed

All volunteers must wear official ID cards issued jointly by the Pak Chong District Office and Khao Yai National Park. This ensures transparency and confirms their authorized status during operations.

18.No Pets Allowed During Patrols

For the safety of both animals and team members, volunteers are strictly prohibited from bringing domestic pets with them while on elephant surveillance or deterrence duty.

3.

In the Long Run, Elephants Must Be Relocated from Human Settlements

Dr. Panthep Rattanakorn, a leading wildlife veterinarian, emphasized that while short-term measures are essential—such as deploying surveillance cameras to monitor elephant movements in real time—the long-term solution must involve physically removing the elephants from the community.

“The nine wild elephants that have wandered out of Khao Yai may still appear charming today,” he noted, “but in three years, they’ll be unmanageable.”

To prevent future conflict, Dr. Panthep suggested a return to traditional practices: capturing the elephants using age-old methods and safely sedating them for relocation. As for where they should go—that, he acknowledged, remains an urgent question yet to be answered.

However, the problem won’t end with these nine elephants. By nature, maturing male elephants are pushed out of their herds. Inevitably, they will find their way into human settlements—and once one ventures out, others are likely to follow. That’s why, while these elephants are still young and able to be moved, relocation must be carried out swiftly.

Phra Athikan Kampanat Sukketitho, abbot of Wat Moo Si and head of the Khao Yai Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Group, offered a grounded local perspective. The worsening conflict in Ban Khao Wong, he explained, stems from the simple fact that every piece of land there is cultivated—farms, orchards, fields. Villagers fiercely protect their property. So when a wild elephant enters, rules are often cast aside. If officials intervene, tensions rise—not just between humans and elephants, but among people themselves.

“The situation is escalating on all fronts,” he said. “And both sides—human and elephant—are being drawn deeper into danger.”

“The other morning,” recalled Phra Athikan Kampanat, “Plai Biang Lek headed straight toward the kitchen of an elderly woman who was preparing breakfast. She panicked and ran. We don’t know what stress the elephant may have experienced during the night, but it clearly emerged distrustful and on edge. It mock-charged at her. She fled up the hillside, slipped on a rock, and fell.”

Incidents like this, he explained, are unprecedented in Khao Yai. Wild elephants usually avoid humans. But this time, the elephant moved toward a person—triggering fear on both sides. “Morning behavior is the most unpredictable,” he warned, “because we have no idea what the animal went through the night before.”

Phra Kampanat called for immediate legal and administrative reforms. “Without clear rules and unified efforts,” he cautioned, “we’re heading into dangerous years. In the next year or two, someone could shoot an elephant in a fit of rage—or worse, someone could be trampled to death.”

For now, his priority is clear: “We need a temporary holding facility—urgently—before we lose something that can’t be undone.”

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