The Thai government announced a new initiative to control its growing wild elephant population using contraceptive vaccines. A pilot project involving approximately 400 elephants aims to influence their reproduction and enable harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants. Thai Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Chalermchai Sri-on instructed the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) to implement the contraceptive vaccine program as part of the ministry's wild elephant population control initiative.
"Reducing conflicts between wildlife and communities will lead to a sustainable and harmonious life between humans and wildlife," said Sri-on, according to the Bangkok Post. The contraceptive vaccines will be administered to female elephants and are designed to prevent pregnancies for several years without affecting the animals' behavior or physiology.
A trial project has been conducted to inject contraceptive vaccines into seven adult female elephants. DNP Director-General Atthapol Charoenchansa stated that the shots were piloted with no side effects. Blood samples are being collected, health checks are conducted, and results are monitored after vaccination. The vaccinated elephants showed no signs of inflammation or behavioral changes.
The wild elephant population in Thailand has been increasing by about 7–8% per year. Projections indicate that the population could reach at least 6,000 individuals within the next four years if left unmanaged. The rapid growth has led to serious human-elephant conflicts, often resulting in damage to property and crops. Since 2012, at least 240 people have been killed by attacks from wild elephants in Thailand due to shrinking habitats, as reported by Die Zeit.
"The increasing elephant population is not compatible with the available forest areas, which are decreasing, leading to serious human-elephant conflicts," the DNP stated, according to Die Zeit. The conflicts have impacted over 42 provinces, with more than 200 other people injured by wild elephant attacks since 2012. The eastern forest area, covering five provinces, has the highest rate of wild elephant population increase and is facing severe problems as elephants are leaving the conservation areas.
Charoenchansa emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "If the problem is not urgently addressed, it could result in an increase in casualties among the people by up to 100 per year in the future," according to Die Zeit. The DNP is collaborating with the Elephant and Wildlife Health Center of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Chiang Mai University to execute the program.
Studies have shown that vaccinations with the long-lasting immune contraceptive SpayVac have no side effects for female elephants. According to Die Zeit, the vaccine does not affect the behavior or physiology of the elephants; it only controls the hormones of female elephants to prevent them from having offspring. One dose of the vaccine will control the elephant's fertility for seven years.
The initiative represents a step for wildlife conservation and community safety in Thailand, seeking to find a balance between the protection of elephants and human safety. The DNP has a plan to experiment and expand the use of contraceptive vaccines on wild elephants under the project starting in January 2025, as reported by Adnkronos. If the results of the contraceptive vaccine trial are satisfactory, the use of vaccines will be expanded to other groups of wild elephants and regions with large populations in Thailand.
In addition to controlling the elephant population, the project aims to address conflicts between elephants and local communities. "This will ultimately lead to a sustainable and harmonious coexistence between humans and animals," said Sri-on, according to Die Zeit. The initial guidelines for managing the wild elephant population include introducing contraceptive vaccines for elephants, creating buffer zones between humans and elephants, and pushing elephants back into the forest.
Elephants hold a special place in Thai culture, being the national animal and considered symbols of strength, wisdom, and luck. In most temples, as well as in front of shrines and home altars, there are elephant figures reflecting their cultural significance, as reported by Die Zeit. Thais have a special love for elephants, considering them majestic animals and bringers of good luck.
However, the rapid increase in the elephant population has strained the available forest habitats, leading elephants to venture into human settlements in search of food. There has been damage to property and crops due to wild elephants, and more than 200 people have been injured by wild elephant attacks.
The DNP is implementing a step-by-step plan for concrete solutions, which includes monitoring the elephants, collecting blood samples, conducting health checks, and evaluating results after vaccination. Each elephant in each herd will be identified and given an individual identity to aid in the monitoring process. Technology and tracking devices will be used to monitor the elephants.
The Thai government's efforts reflect a commitment to addressing the wild elephant problem systematically and appropriately. The principle of the policy is "elephants can live, people can live," emphasizing the necessity for both elephants and humans to coexist. "It will reduce problems between people and wild elephants and involve all sectors and the public in caring more seriously," an official said, according to Daily News.
The initiative aims to manage and solve the wild elephant problem and lead to the conservation and management of the wild elephant population at a balanced level, addressing the rapidly increasing population in areas where habitats can no longer support them. The government established the Wild Elephant Conservation and Management Committee in 2022, signed by the Prime Minister, as reported by Kom Chad Luek.
According to Thai authorities, there are currently about 4,000 wild elephants in the country. Managing the wild elephant population is necessary for future planning and management, especially in areas where the habitat can no longer support the rapidly increasing numbers. The project will provide a way to manage and solve the wild elephant problem and manage the areas for conservation and population management.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.