2015 to be a zero poaching year for elephants in KuiBuri National Park

Research data confirms that until now there has been no elephant poaching incident in KuiBuri and 2015 could be another year of zero poaching for the site carrying on their record from 2010, elephant deaths have declined dramatically in recent years.

Research data confirms that until now there has been no elephant poaching incident in KuiBuri and 2015 could be another year of zero poaching for the site carrying on their record from 2010, elephant deaths have declined dramatically in recent years. There were only 4 deaths from 2006 to the present compared to 11 deaths from 1997 – 2005. Additionally, human-elephant conflict incidents of crop-raiding declined dramatically from 332 in 2005 to 274 in 2013 to 146 in 2014.

These achievements are the result of an adaptive management approach by the WWF Kuiburi Wildlife Conservation project, which coordinates, co-supports, and co-implements all conservation working Kuiburi National Park and surrounding forests. Hundreds of joint patrols by foot, vehicle and helicopter with cooperation from National Park staff and military and border patrol police, who are trained to use the SMART patrol system, are major reasons for this success. WWF and park staff encouraged farmers and local communities to stop forest encroachment and poaching in the core area of the park while encouraging sustainable land use planning. Habitat for elephants and tiger’s prey has been improved in key areas and local communities and concerned government agencies are now engaged as conservation partners.

“Kuiburi is a bottleneck area that connects the central region of Thailand with the Thai Southern Peninsula. The area is rich in biodiversity and is an important refuge for elephants and other large mammals, said Wayuphong Jitvijak, Manager of Kuiburi Wildlife Conservation Project, WWF-Thailand. “Our project goal is to reduce the likelihood of human-elephant conflict, end hunting of wild species and at the same time also work to eliminate killing of elephants for ivory and smuggling of baby elephants from the wild.” added Jitvijak.

Kuiburi National Park has an area of 969 km2 and was declared to be the 90th national park in Thailand in 1999 under the royal patronage of H.M. the King. Today, more than 250 wild elephants reside within the park.WWF, the Department of National Parks, local communities, and partner organizations collaboratively work to restore natural resources and maintain a healthy ecosystem for elephants by creating salt licks and filling water holes during the dry season to ensure that the elephants and tiger’s prey remain in the forest, thereby reducing human-elephant conflict incidents such as crop raiding.

Today, an estimated 40,000 – 50,000 Asian elephants remain in world and Thailand has a population of 2500-3200 wild elephants. The Asian elephant’s range has shrunk by over 70% in the last 30 years and now the Asian elephant is classified as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“WWF’s goal is to reduce human elephant conflict and wipe out the illegal ivory trade to ensure a future rich in biodiversity and a future with elephants for generations to come. Every effort, however small matters. Say no to ivory products and join us in this fight to save elephants with your support and donations. Together we will make Thailand a leader in elephant conservation.” said YowalakThiarachow, Country Director, WWF-Thailand.