งานวิจัยและบทความ

Measures to stop elephant crop raiding in an agro-industrial crop area are assessed, using the data from documentary research, field observation and reports from the park agency. Expansion of commercial pineapple growing in a lowland valley of favorable elephant habitat has pushed elephants into subordinate upland areas, which are now included in Kui Buri National Park. Due to the close proximity of croplands to the national park, elephants from the park come out and raid the croplands. When pineapple was expensive, 4 elephants were killed. Immediate actions to solve this problem were made under the HM the King's Initiated Project by allocating a part of croplands for elephant habitat improvement. The elephants have not been poached and killed since, but their herds have split into several smaller groups and dispersed, causing more frequent conflicts. Crop raiding occurs in both dry and wet seasons, and is related to the distribution, availability, and nutritional value of fodder in the forests and in the croplands, as well as water availability. Simple electric fences and chasing by park rangers and farmers are present measures to limit movement of elephants to cultivated areas. However, the effort is just a temporary one due to increasing of the elephant population and the very long park boundary in contact with croplands. Appropriate multiple countermeasures with participation of local stakeholders is the recommended longterm solution. They are carrying out land-use planning and establishing schemes to provide permanent benefits to the rural community by using the elephants in the conflict area.