Park probe elephant slaughtering
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A panel is being set up to investigate the slaughtering of wild elephants over the past two years in Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan National Park and the role of officials, including the park's chief.
“Chaiwat [Limlikhit-aksorn] has a history of conflict with locals there,” Manopat Huamuangkaew, director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said yesterday.
“If he is found working inappropriately, he will be transferred to another area, but if not, he will remain working there,” he said.
The committee’s findings were expected to be reported within 30 days, including how chief warden Chaiwat handled problems stemming from his reported in ability to collaborate with other agencies, he said.
Many elephant carcasses have been found in the park. The latest were a beheaded pregnant elephant this month and another last month that was believed to have been killed to steal her calf.
Farmers who were angry at the pachyderms for damaging their crops while foraging, poachers or influential people were possible perpetrators.
To prevent wild jumbos from going past farms and trampling their plants, bridges would be built for them to cross over, artificial salt licks provided and plants grown for them to eat.
