{"id":24804,"date":"2025-03-13T13:56:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T06:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trueblog.info\/blog\/?p=24804"},"modified":"2025-03-17T13:58:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T06:58:53","slug":"thai-elephant-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.true.th\/blog\/en\/thai-elephant-day-2\/","title":{"rendered":"March 13 Thai Elephant Day \u2013 True Smart Early Warning System Achieves Sustainable Human-Elephant Coexistence in the Digital Era"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 13, 2025<\/strong> – Elephants have long been intertwined with Thai history and way of life, symbolizing the king\u2019s royal power as they were trained for combat, and playing a crucial role in transportation and labor before the advent of machinery. Recognizing their immense significance, Thailand has designated March 13 as \u201cThai Elephant Day\u201d to honor these majestic creatures, which have been an integral part of the nation\u2019s cultural and natural heritage.<\/p>\n

Currently, Thailand is home to over 4,000 wild elephants scattered across 91 protected areas. While the increasing elephant population is a positive sign for conservation, their natural habitat has been shrinking due to agricultural and community expansion, leading to overlapping living spaces between humans and elephants.<\/p>\n

As forests diminish, elephants are forced to venture into farmlands and human settlements in search of food, resulting in Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC)\u2014a pressing issue worldwide in countries with wild elephant populations. These conflicts cause significant losses on both sides, including damaged crops, destroyed property, and even injuries or fatalities of both humans and elephants. Between 2012 and 2024, Thailand recorded 227 human deaths from elephant encounters, with over 150,000 households affected. On the other hand, many elephants have also been injured or killed as people try to protect their crops and livelihoods.<\/p>\n

Historically, efforts to mitigate HEC included trenches, low-voltage electric fences, community patrols, and buffer crops that elephants dislike. However, these methods had limitations in terms of effectiveness, cost, and sustainability. Barriers can be breached by determined elephants, while the constant patrolling places a heavy burden on villagers.<\/p>\n

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In the digital era, technological advancements have paved the way for innovative solutions including 5G, AI and IoT. True Corporation, Thailand\u2019s leading telecom and technology company\u2014ranked No. 1 globally for sustainability in the telecommunications sector for seven consecutive years (DJSI 2024)\u2014has collaborated with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Thailand) to firstly develop the \u201cTrue Smart Early Warning System\u201d (TSEWS)\u2014a groundbreaking initiative to tackle HEC effectively.<\/p>\n

TSEWS is not merely a simple technological solution; it is a Tech For Good innovation designed for sustainable social impact. The system integrates: 5G & 4G Networks \u2013 ensuring connectivity even in remote areas; AI-powered Image Analysis \u2013 accurately identifying elephants; Motion Sensors & Smart Camera Traps \u2013 operating with IoT technology; Real-time Alerts \u2013 sending immediate notifications to authorities\u2019 war rooms and Cloud-based Data Processing \u2013 analyzing elephant behavior patterns.<\/p>\n

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Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province is home to approximately 400 wild elephants, coexisting with more than 20,000 people across nearly 4,000 households. This situation highlights the challenges of human-wildlife coexistence with large animals. The area has a history of significant human-elephant conflict, as it is surrounded by pineapple plantations and field crops that naturally attract elephants.<\/p>\n

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TSEWS in Action: Remarkable Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the introduction of TSEWS in 2019, the frequency of elephant intrusions has increased almost fourfold, from 255 incidents in 2017 to 992 in 2024. However, despite this rise, damage to farmland and property has dramatically decreased:<\/p>\n