Story perspectives

Thailand Launches Vaccination Program to Control Elephant Population

1/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Thailand has launched a contraceptive vaccination program for wild elephants to control their population, which grew from 334 in 2015 to nearly 800 by 2025.
On January 26, 2023, wildlife authorities vaccinated three female elephants in Trat province.
Conservation official Mr. Sukhee Boonsang reported an annual birth rate of about eight percent in eastern Thailand, increasing human-elephant conflicts.
Since 2012, these conflicts have caused nearly 200 human fatalities and over 100 elephant deaths.
More vaccinations will occur before the rainy season in May 2023.

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Story summary

Thailand has launched a contraceptive vaccination program for wild elephants to control their population, which grew from 334 in 2015 to nearly 800 by 2025.
On January 26, 2023, wildlife authorities vaccinated three female elephants in Trat province.
Conservation official Mr. Sukhee Boonsang reported an annual birth rate of about eight percent in eastern Thailand, increasing human-elephant conflicts.
Since 2012, these conflicts have caused nearly 200 human fatalities and over 100 elephant deaths.
More vaccinations will occur before the rainy season in May 2023.