Determination of Stimulating Factors of Wild Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Dispersal from the Kaeng Krachan National Park to Surrounding Land Use in Thailand

A key factor influencing the dispersal of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) from Kaeng Krachan National Park into adjacent agricultural lands is the presence of water sources near the park's border. The study identified six elephant trails, primarily aligned east-west, leading to major reservoirs like Deng, Paloa, and Kralang, which are located within 10–30 km of communities and at elevations of 170–380 meters above mean sea level with gentle slopes (<10%). Satellite imagery analysis revealed significant land-use changes from 1975 to 2011, showing a shift from near-complete forest cover to agricultural and community areas, which disrupted elephant trails through fragmentation. The research also found indirect evidence of elephant activity along these trails, such as dung piles, feeding signs, and footprints. These findings underscore the importance of water development for elephants within conserved forests, suggesting that local community-based natural resource management could mitigate conflicts arising from land-use changes.

KROUTNOI, L., SRIBURI, T., WIJITKOSUM, S., & NUANYAI, K. (2018). Determination of Stimulating Factors of Wild Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Dispersal from the Kaeng Krachan National Park to Surrounding Land Use in Thailand. Walailak Journal of Science and Technology (WJST), 17(4), 392–404. https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2020.4087