In a recent statement, a senior official from the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department highlighted the effectiveness of GPS collars in tracking elephant movements, particularly when they stray from protected areas into inhabited regions. Supagit Vinitpornsawan clarified that while some may misconstrue the collars as mechanisms to prevent elephants from leaving their natural habitats, their primary function lies in location monitoring.
Initiated in 2018, the program aimed to equip elephants with GPS collars, raising hopes that such technology would mitigate instances of elephants venturing beyond the confines of national parks. “The collars enable us to monitor their whereabouts,” stated Supagit, who oversees a wildlife encounter assistance center. “Upon detecting their presence in inhabited areas, we promptly deploy teams to guide them back,” he emphasized.
Despite the advantages offered by GPS tracking, challenges persist when elephants encroach upon agricultural lands, prompting queries about delayed responses from authorities. “Our manpower is limited, whereas elephant incursions occur across numerous locations,” Supagit elaborated.
The remarks were made on the occasion of Thai National Elephants Day, underscoring ongoing efforts to address human-elephant conflicts through technological and strategic interventions.
