Risks for humans increase, control of births at the start
Thailand is preparing to administer the ‘pill’ to a small number of wild elephants in the context of a plan that aims to control the births of the pachyderms, which represent a growing problem for the population.
Asian elephants, the Guardian reports, were declared in danger of extinction in 1986, but the Thai authorities stress that the conservation efforts have translated into an annual growth of 8% of their population.
A rate, this, which not only puts the forests already impoverished at risk, but causes serious problems to the inhabitants since elephants move more and more often towards populated areas, causing damage to agricultural land, homes and in some cases even death of the residents.
The proposal to resort to the control of births is controversial: some activists argue that there have been not enough tests to identify its long -term impact on the elephants. The contraceptives were used on wild African elephants in South Africa.
Last year, the SPAYVAC anti -migger vaccine on seven tonesticated Thai elephants was experimented and the authorities claim that it had no negative effects. The drug will now be administered to wild elephants. SuPakit Vinitparnsawan, director of the Center for assistance to people affected by wildlife at the National Parks department, explained that the drug will be administered to about 20 specimens that have already given birth and that it will make animals sterile for seven years.
The goal, Vinitpornsawan specified, is not to completely prevent the reproduction of elephants, but to suspend it in some animals, adding that sterilization will be started together with other measures to protect the population.
