COVID-19: Thailand's unemployed elephants migrate to home village

Some 3,000 domesticated elephants have been unemployed due to the global pandemic

Last updated: June 11, 2020 | 17:05

AFP and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Digital Content Editor

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Huay Pakoot, Thaland: A thousand elephants threatened by starvation have journeyed through the hills of northern Thailand, making a slow migration home from tourist sites forced shut by the pandemic.

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Home for some of the animals is the northern village of Huay Pakoot, where generations of ethnic Karen mahouts - or elephant handlers - have been rearing the giant mammals for four centuries.

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But it is around tourist hub Chiang Mai, 180 kilometres (110 miles) away, that many mahouts and their elephants work, performing money-spinning tricks for foreigners in amusement parks or "sanctuaries".

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Some of the controversial camps employ abusive methods to "break" and train the elephants, who earn their keep by entertaining busloads of tourists eager for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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As the coronavirus pandemic paralysed global travel and closed many of the parks in mid-March, however, Thailand's some 3,000 domesticated elephants have been unemployed. Many - at risk of starvation - have been brought home.

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"They are tired but rather happy," said Chaiyaporn, a mahout of 15 years, after they arrived in Huay Pakoot. "They have a very good memory. It seems that after years of absence they know they are finally coming home," the 35-year-old said.

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About 1,000 elephants and their mahouts have returned to their villages in the past two months, said Theerapat Trungprakan, president of the Thai Elephant Alliance Association.

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"Such a big migration over such a short period of time is unprecedented in this country," he said.

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But the homecoming is not without problems. Huay Pakoot normally has fewer than 10 elephants in it. Today, more than 90 are living alongside 400 villagers.

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The vast forests surrounding the village have been cleared to make room for the cultivation of corn and there is nothing to support the needs of such a large herd.

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"The whole village is actually not ready to handle them," Theerapat said.

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While some sleep behind homes, most of the elephants remain in the forest at night, watched over by their mahouts.

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But sometimes they escape and roam around farm property, risking getting hurt by people trying to defend their crops.

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Conflicts between territorial elephants have also already been reported, with at least two injured in a fight, Theerapat added.

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For mahouts who made the long journey home to avoid starvation themselves, finding 300 kilograms (650 pounds) of plants for each elephant - their average daily diet - is a challenge.

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Buying sufficient feed instead can cost roughly 500 baht daily ($15), said 19-year-old mahout Jirayu Prateeppratarn.

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"More grass, bananas, and sugarcane" crops will have to be planted if the outbreak goes on much longer, he added.

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There is also concern that desperate mahouts might turn to the illegal logging industry, which operates around the Thai-Myanmar border.

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Theerapat warned that every family's budget in the village is near its end.

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But some are hopeful that the crisis might jumpstart a reflection on the unregulated and often brutal nature of animal tourism - a large, lucrative contributor to Thailand's economy. Others are just glad the elephants are home.

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Mahout Sinchai Joroenbunpod, 37, whose animals have never worked in a tourist camp, said he was overjoyed about the homecoming of the other elephants - some he had not seen in years. "I grew up with them - they are like my brothers and sisters."

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