Efforts to promote awareness around protecting elephants, an endangered species in Thailand, have been successful. But the conservation efforts have led to another problem. As populations of wild elephants have grown, some have strayed into areas populated by people to find food, with tragic results.

Bangkok

Efforts to raise awareness around the protection of elephants, an endangered species in Thailand, have seen successful outcomes. The initiatives aimed at preserving elephant populations highlight the growing concern for environmental and species protection. However, the successful conservation efforts have unexpectedly led to a new challenge involving human and elephant interactions.

As the populations of wild elephants have increased as a direct result of conservation measures, some of these animals have ventured into human-populated areas in search of food. This migration into territories inhabited by people has resulted in tragic consequences. The interaction between the growing populations of wild elephants and humans striving to coexist in shared spaces underscores a complex struggle for balance.



Elephants and humans struggle for balance in Thailand

A group of volunteers search for clues as dusk falls in eastern Thailand. Their targets are harder to spot than you might think. These are the elephant hunters. Wild elephants here have adapted, hiding and sleeping in the day, foraging at night. Their enormous appetites, up to 400 kilograms of food a day, have drawn them out of the forest and onto farms. While they try to avoid contact with humans, when they do meet, the result can be disastrous. After darkness falls, more volunteers come to join the hunt. A few are armed, but that's just for protection. It's not really our job to hunt for elephants. We're more like spotters. We're trying to make sure that the elephants don't go near the community. At the Eastern Elephant Education Centre, they try to track the elephants and educate everyone in how to react when they encounter them. The elephant population has been increasing and people have become more aggressive to protect themselves and their property. At the same time, the elephants have become more aggressive, so there's more friction between humans and animals. The elephant hunters race through the countryside, searchlights pointing into the thick forests. Many people in this area are now too scared to go out at night. These are not the ponderous pachyderms many imagine them to be. Silent and stealthy, they can creep up in the dark. That's what happened to Thai's neighbour last month. Rubber tappers have to work in the cool of the night, but it's a huge risk. My neighbour was working that night and came across the elephant and couldn't get away in time. The elephant ended up stomping him to death. Then a report from villagers of a disturbance on the edge of their community. The thermal imaging drone takes off, and this time they're in luck. Two distinct shapes. The elephants were just 150 metres down the track. We could hear them snorting in the darkness, but they're heading off into the forest and the elephant hunters have deemed there's no threat unless they decide to turn back. As the volunteers shine lights to deter them, they move away. But they'll be back. They frequently return to places they know they'll find food, and an elephant never forgets. Tony Chang, Al Jazeera, Chao Chong Sao, Eastern Thailand.

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