Guidelines for Solving the Encroachment Problems of Wild Elephants in Tha Takiap Subdistrict, Tha Takiab District, Chachoengsao Province

Abstract

The research purposes were (1) to study the problems or impact from the encroachment of wild elephants; (2) to study the guidelines for solving the encroachment problems of wild elephants; and (3) to study the expectation of support from various agencies in solving the encroachment problems of wild elephants in Tha Takiap Subdistrict, Tha Takiab District, Chachoengsao Province. The population was the farmers in the area of Tha Takiap Subdistrict, Tha Takiab District Chachoengsao Province, which was affected by the encroachment of wild elephants in 2019-2021, totaling 30 households and 5 community leaders. The research instrument was the in-depth interview; and the data analyzed by the Content Analysis method.       

          The research findings were:   

1. The problems or impact from the encroachment of wild elephants were the impact on people's lives and psychology; the impact on people's occupations, especially agricultural career because the agricultural crops were damaged; the social and intellectual impacts because making the conflict between people who have conservation ideas versus those who have ideas about bringing elephants back into the wild; and the impact on the use of budgets, resources to prevent and solve problems, causing various resources to be used to prevent encroachment and destruction of wild elephants.
2. The guidelines for solving the encroachment problems of wild elephants were : build barriers to prevent encroachment by wild elephants; hiring personnel to monitor encroachment and pushing out wild elephants; create an abundant food source for wild elephants; make the boundaries of protected forest areas clear and issue measures to prevent people from encroaching on them; promote the cultivation of crops that elephants do not eat; and the use of other measures to prevent the encroachment and destruction of wild elephants.
3. The expectation of support from various agencies in solving the encroachment problems of wild elephants were the government should pay compensation and damages at the same rate as the damages received; the government should hire personnel to monitor encroachment and pushing out wild elephants; and the government and related agencies should work together more with the people.