US EditionThailand Administers Contraceptive Vaccine to Wild Elephants to Manage Population
Thailand's wild elephant population grew from 334 in 2015 to nearly 800 in 2025, prompting contraceptive vaccinations to reduce human-elephant conflicts and fatalities.
- On Wednesday, Thailand's Wildlife Conservation Office said it administered a contraceptive vaccine to three female wild elephants in Trat province on Monday using a dart gun without anaesthesia.
- Rising population figures show wild elephants increased from 334 in 2015 to almost 800 last year, with an eight percent yearly birth rate in five provinces of eastern Thailand compared to three percent in other regions.
- Earlier tests showed promising results in northern Chiang Mai where seven captive elephants were vaccinated two years ago; officials plan blood checks every six months and another 15 doses before May.
- The move pits conflict reduction against conservation priorities as officials note almost 200 human fatalities and more than 100 elephant deaths since 2012, while Asian elephants remain endangered under the IUCN.
- Targeting high-birth-rate provinces, the program will use another 15 doses on elephants in other herds before this year's rainy season starts in May in five eastern provinces with about eight percent annual birth rate.
31 Articles
31 Articles
The number of wild elephants in Thailand is increasing, while their habitat is shrinking. The government wants to counter this, also because more and more deaths occurred in people who were attacked by the animals.
Die Presse
The number of wild elephants in Thailand has increased over the past ten years from over 300 to almost 800. More and more people have clashed with each other.
Thailand puts wild elephants on birth control as human-animal conflict rises
BANGKOK, Jan 28 — Thailand has given a contraceptive vaccine to wild elephants for the first time in an effort to control their ballooning population, a conservation official said today.Wildlife authorities and a veterinary team administered the shots to three female elephants in southeastern Trat province on Monday, said Sukhee Boonsang, a director of the Wildlife Conservation Office.The aim was to manage the wild elephant population, he told A…
BT
Jyllands-PostenThailand will limit the growth of the wild elephant population with contraception for female elephants.
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