Thailand: Plan to use contraceptive vaccine on elephants sparks debate

To control the wild elephant population in Thailand, the use of a contraceptive vaccine has been proposed, but the project has its detractors.

On Friday, January 17, the Department of Natural Resources (DNP) held a forum on the use of contraceptive vaccines to control the wild elephant population and address the problem of animals straying outside conservation areas.

See: Rise in elephant attacks: Thailand bets on contraception

The forum brought together around 300 participants, including affected communities, academics, elephant conservation groups and members of parliament.

Opinions were divided.

Some supported contraceptive vaccines, while others believed that vaccination would not prevent wild elephants from encroaching on local communities' lands.

Thailand's wild elephant population, currently estimated at 4,000, is increasing by 7 to 8 percent annually while the area of ​​forest habitats is shrinking.

See: Human-elephant conflicts in Thailand are due to habitat loss

The problem of wild elephants wandering outside their designated habitats affects communities in five forest complexes:

1. The western forest;
2. The Eastern Forest;
3. Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai Forest;
4. Phu Khieo-Nam Nao Forest;
5. Kaeng Krachan Forest.

Human-wild elephant conflicts have been reported in more than 41 conservation areas across 42 provinces.

An elephant breaks through the wall of a house in Hua Hin to steal food.

Mr. Athapol said wild elephants roaming outside the forests have damaged agricultural and residential areas, sometimes resulting in human deaths.

Since 2012, wild elephants have caused 240 deaths and 208 injuries.

See: Worrying rise in elephant attacks in Thailand

Mr. Athapol said there was an urgent need to address this issue.

A National Elephant Conservation and Management Committee has established guidelines covering six areas:

1. Habitats for wild elephants;
2. Barriers against wild elephants;
3. A surveillance and community network;
4. Assistance to affected persons;
5. Sustainable management of areas to manage wild elephants;
6. Controlling wild elephant populations with birth control vaccines.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on supports the use of vaccines as a means of controlling the elephant population.

The ministry collaborated with Chiang Mai University's Elephant and Wildlife Health Center to study the use of SpayVac contraceptive vaccines.

These vaccines, previously used on African elephants, were tested in April 2024 on seven adult female elephants.

Each dose of the vaccine was found to suppress the hormonal functions needed to bear babies for up to seven years and did not affect the elephants' behavior, Athapol said.

Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, director of the national park office, said the high cost of importing vaccines and the logistical challenges of using them may not be worth it.

Vaccination procedures for wild animals are risky for both humans and elephants and require skilled teams.

Mr. Chaiwat said the vaccination project should be canceled and other options should be considered, such as reclaiming the animals' habitats.

Protest against contraceptive vaccine for elephants

Members of the Soo Phua Chang Network demonstrated outside the DNP in Bangkok to protest its plan to use contraceptive vaccines on wild elephants on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Environmentalists have expressed strong opposition to the project.

The Soo Phua Chang (Fight for Elephants) Network, an elephant advocacy group, gathered outside the DNP office in Bangkok during the forum.

They expressed their concerns and presented a petition calling for a delay until further studies validate the contraceptive's effectiveness.

Andaman Adana, a representative of the network, believes that further studies are necessary.

He stressed the importance of conducting trials before widespread application of the method, citing uncertainties related to monitoring the effectiveness of injections on elephants in the wild.

Later, Pattharapol Manee-on of the DNP met with the protesters to discuss their concerns.

The debate highlights the balance sought by the authorities between sustainable population control and the conservation of flora and fauna.

See also:

Thailand: Death of Spanish tourist hits elephant camps

Fatal collision with elephant in Thailand

Thailand: World's first twin elephants of different sexes born

Thailand criticized for captive breeding of elephants for tourism

Elephant dies in Thailand after being fed by tourists

An elephant forced to work in extreme heat tore its mahout in two in Thailand

Elephant breaks through wall of house in Thailand to steal food

Source: Bangkok Post , ASEAN Now