Kanchanaburi, March 23 – The Department of National Parks discusses with communities in the area adjacent to Lam Klong Ngu National Park to find ways to prevent both humans and wild elephants from falling into sinkholes. According to the previous incident of a wild elephant, the mother and child fell. From the survey found 11 large and deep sinkholes.
Veterinarian Pattarapol Manee-on or Dr. Lot, Office of Wildlife Conservation. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Mr. Pichet Chaisawat, Head of Lam Klong Ngu National Park, discussed with people in the Song Tho mining community in Cha Sub-district and Thong Pha Phum District. Kanchanaburi to attend a meeting to make an action plan to cover holes in the area of Ban Muang Song Thaeo All of these pits are located in national forests and old mining areas.
Previously, a mother and child elephant that came out of Lam Khlong Ngu National Park fell into a sinkhole that was so deep that the National Park Department had to mobilize to help by making the hole’s mouth slope so that the 2 elephants could walk up. After exploring all the sinkholes, it was found that There are as many as 11 deep and wide sinkholes. The original plan was to cover every sinkhole. which requires a lot of soil and the depth of the hole is uncertain. may not completely cover the hole and use a lot of budget If left for a long time There may be a wild elephant falling down and getting injured again. In the past, there were villagers who reported that Children and pets have also fallen into sinkholes.
Recently, guidelines have been established to reduce the chances and risks of elephants falling into the first 3 holes as follows:
Hole 1 will not close the mouth of the hole to allow the elephants to go down. but will make a ramp so that the elephant can go down and go up by himself
The second hole, because the hole is narrow and deep, the mouth of the hole is surrounded by large stones. therefore had to procure logs and concrete pillars that were not used and used to cover the mouth of the pit to be narrower
Hole 3 is a hole with fig and banana trees. which attracts elephants to the hole’s mouth and is vulnerable Therefore, he surrounded the fence with barbed wire to prevent the elephant from falling into the hole. In the height of barbed wire that can keep elephants of different sizes Elephants can also eat figs from trees. For further action, vetiver grass will be planted. and bamboo at the mouth of every hole to prevent soil subsidence When an elephant comes near the hole and surrounds the barbed wire fence Prevent people and pets from entering as well.
This will collect operating results and various data reports. Return to the National Park Service and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to coordinate academics in geology and groundwater Continue to analyze causes and approaches for safety management that are suitable for people and wild elephants in the area.
Mr. Khamla Khiao-im, deputy president of Chalae Subdistrict Administrative Organization, who chaired the meeting with representatives of the National Park Department, said that the people in the community were very satisfied. which the officials rushed to coordinate and jointly formulate solutions to problems for villagers and wildlife quickly.-Thai News Agency
Source: Thai News Agency