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A Fragile Coexistence – Humans and Elephants in Eastern Thailand
25 August, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were more than 100,000 wild elephants living in Thailand. By the early 2000s, fewer than 3,000 remained nationwide as extensive poaching, logging and encroachment into forests severely impacted the population. These actions had put Thailand’s national animal, the elephant, on the endangered species list.
The response was quickly to protect the remaining forests, forming wildlife parks and sanctuaries where the animals could live in safety. But this protection was so effective that the numbers of key species – including the elephant – exploded and certain national parks became unable to sustain this booming population. As a result, the elephants started to roam, looking for food and new areas outside of the forests, leading to Thailand’s most intense human-elephant conflict (HEC). Many of the elephants never returned to the original forest and now live almost exclusively amongst the eucalyptus, rubber, and palm plantations and occasional community forest within close proximity to villages.
With the highest concentration of wild elephants per square kilometre of natural forest in the country, the four provinces of Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao and Chanthaburi to the east of Bangkok have become an unlikely battleground between farmers trying to protect their livelihoods and wild elephants who need to eat. This area is also known as Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and is the largest economic zone in the country. To mitigate the problem, communities formed volunteer groups who are on alert every night and, together with forestry officials, are ready to drive the elephants away from their crops. But this is dangerous work and would claim many lives on both sides. Between 2012 and 2023, a conservative figure says that 105 people were killed (15 in 2023 alone) by elephants and 133 more injured, while 92 elephants were killed and 46 injured.
At Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, the heart of the Eastern Forest Complex, the population soon exceeded the park’s carrying capacity and around 15 years ago the first elephants began to venture outside. This put them in direct conflict with the communities that live around the peripheries of the park.
Today, experts estimate that approximately 600 wild elephants live in this area with more than half living permanently outside the boundaries of the sanctuary. With a birth rate estimated to be at 8% per annum in this area, one thing many agree on is that the problem is only going to get worse.
German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel has investigated this conflict and its complexities alongside the British documentary photographer Luke Duggleby with the support of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. A hugely contentious issue remains with different opinions on possible solutions; is it, if not fixable, manageable?
A photography exhibition of previously unseen photographs from the field will be on display to the public from August 22 to September 3, 2023 at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC).
A special forum and art talk, organised by Bangkok Tribune and its partners and supported by the Pulitzer Center, will be held on 25th August, 10 am-3 pm at SEA-Junction in the BACC building to facilitate public discussion and further raise public awareness of the issue.
Organized by
Bangkok Tribune News is the indie and in-depth online news agency to “explain” and “inspire” people with constructive news reports on development and environmental policies in Thailand and the Mekong region, critical to public decisions, thus truly serving the public interest. More information at https://bkktribune.com/.
Decode.plus, Thai PBS is an online media for citizens of the future who want to see change and become part of the society’s solution. It presents carefully crafted issues with attention to conversations, truth and challenging questions in order to pass on the inspiration for collective social action. More information at https://decode.plus/.
Thai Society of Environmental Journalists (Thai SEJ) is an association of news reporting individuals who strive to report on environmental issues and the impact of climate change both in Thailand and overseas. More information at https://www.facebook.com/thaisej.
SEA Junction established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions, from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 408 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. More information at http://seajunction.org/.
Supported by
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting raises awareness of underreported global issues through direct support for quality journalism and a unique program of education and public outreach. More information at https://pulitzercenter.org/.
