Thailand began administering contraceptive vaccines to wild elephants in an attempt to curb deadly confrontations between humans and animals.
The measure seeks to reduce the elephant population in areas where farmers and pachyderms compete for the same space.
This is because, in recent years, the expansion of agricultural operations over the forests has displaced elephants from their natural habitat.
Due to this, in 2024 these animals killed 30 people and injured 29 in the Asian country, according to official figures.
Additionally, authorities recorded more than 2000 incidents of crop damage caused by elephants.
Due to this situation, considered unsustainable, a trial began to apply contraceptive vaccines to these wild elephants in an effort to reduce their population in these key areas. However, the measure is controversial: the details.
How elephant population control with contraceptive vaccines works
Sukhee Boonsang, director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, explained that it became necessary to control the population of elephants through contraceptive vaccines as the number of specimens near residential areas increases.
“If we do not act, the impact on people living in these areas will continue to increase until it becomes unmanageable,” warned the official who ordered the use of contraceptive vaccines in elephants.
Therefore, the office obtained 25 doses of a contraceptive vaccine manufactured in the United States. With this, they conducted a two-year trial with seven domesticated elephants that yielded promising results.
Following this, they began using it on wild specimens: at the end of January, authorities administered the contraceptive vaccine to three wild elephants in the eastern province of Trat.
It should be noted that these vaccines do not prevent ovulation in females, but they do prevent the eggs from being fertilized.
The effectiveness and scope of the program
The contraceptive vaccine can prevent gestation in elephants for seven years.
After that, the specimens can reproduce again if they do not receive a booster dose once that time has passed. Experts will closely monitor the vaccinated animals during that period.
The program is only aimed at wild elephants in areas with the highest rates of violent conflicts.
Official statistics place the birth rate of wild elephants in these regions at approximately 8.2% annually, more than double the national average.
It is estimated that about 800 of the 4400 wild elephants in the country live in these conflict zones. Authorities are now preparing to administer the 15 remaining doses in priority areas.
Criticism of contraceptive vaccines for the risk to elephant conservation
The vaccination campaign has drawn criticism that it could undermine conservation efforts.
Thailand has a centuries-old tradition of using domesticated elephants in agriculture and transportation, and these animals have been officially proclaimed the symbol of the country.
In addition to contraceptive vaccines, authorities have implemented other measures to reduce the conflict:
- Creation of more water and food points within the forests
- Construction of protective fences
- Deployment of guards to guide elephants back to their habitat
A court-ordered operation in early February to remove wild elephants in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen sparked public outrage.
One of the animals died during the relocation process from asphyxiation after receiving anesthesia.
Athapol Charoenshunsa, director general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, regretted what happened. He assured that the protocols were correctly followed and opened an investigation to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.
