Thailand has started administering contraceptive vaccines to wild elephants in an effort to manage the growing conflicts between human and elephant populations. This issue has been exacerbated by the expansion of agricultural land near forests, forcing elephants out of their natural habitats. The situation has become dire, with reports indicating that last year in Thailand, wild elephants were responsible for the deaths of 30 people, with many others injured in confrontations.

Sukhee Boonsang, director of the conservation agency, highlighted the urgent need to control the population of wild elephants, particularly in areas close to human settlements where their numbers have sharply increased. The agency obtained 25 doses of the contraceptive vaccine from the United States and tested it for two years on seven trained elephants. The results have been promising, showing that while the vaccine does not prevent ovulation, it effectively stops the fertilization of eggs.

This innovative approach represents a significant step in wildlife conservation and human-elephant coexistence in Thailand, aiming to reduce the number of human fatalities and injuries caused by wild elephants while also managing the elephant population. The first application of the vaccine to three wild elephants in eastern Trat province marks a milestone in this endeavor, indicating the country's commitment to addressing the risks posed by increasing human and elephant interactions.