CHANTHABURI — Cherry bombs and angry bees are the tools of human resistance in a growing and sometimes deadly conflict with wild elephants in eastern Thailand.

In the Kaeng Hang Meao district of Chanthaburi province – population 36,000 – humans are having more frequent run-ins with wild Asian elephants as development creeps further into territory that was once safe ground for the approximately 150 animals.

The majority of people here are rubber farmers, and recent development has meant clearing more land. Due to high temperatures during the day, the elephants are most active from early evening to dawn. That makes it particularly dangerous for plantation workers who go out to harvest at night when lower temperatures make for more fluid latex. Three people here have been killed this year. Six died in 2015.

In an effort to reduce the danger, parks and wildlife officials and volunteers regularly patrol and monitor areas where encounters are likely, such as the corridors regularly used by elephants in their daily wanderings. Their search for food brings them into areas adjacent to community members’ homes and farmlands.

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People say the increasing number of animals has made their lives more difficult, as they don’t feel safe going outside after dark. That prevents them from keeping the elephants out of their crops, some of which the pachyderms are happy to make a meal of. In response, they’re experimenting with replacing crude methods such as large caltrops made by hammering large nails through wood with less harmful methods.

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For many, the only elephant deterrent is going out at night to bang pots and pans. Others use small, but loud firecrackers to drive off the elephants if they find themselves in a dangerous situation.

One notable method imported from use in Africa has been linking beehives with ropes to form a fence of irritable bees ready to sting if the rope is disturbed.

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A man steps over puddles in earth pitted by elephant feet near a community in the Kaeng Hang Meao district of Chanthaburi province in eastern Thailand.
A man steps over puddles in earth pitted by elephant feet near a community in the Kaeng Hang Meao district of Chanthaburi province in eastern Thailand.
Some locals have begun using a new method to keep the elephants away from their homes: ‘fences’ made by connecting a number of suspended beehives with ropes. When the elephants wander into the ropes, the bees are upset and emerge from their hives. Experience has shown elephants are quite afraid of bees, and it is thought this method will help keep them out of residential and agricultural areas and out of conflict with humans and possible harm.
Some locals have begun using a new method to keep the elephants away from their homes: ‘fences’ made by connecting a number of suspended beehives with ropes. When the elephants wander into the ropes, the bees are upset and emerge from their hives. Experience has shown elephants are quite afraid of bees, and it is thought this method will help keep them out of residential and agricultural areas and out of conflict with humans and possible harm.
In rubber harvesting, the latex is more easily drawn from trees in the cooler hours of the early morning. This means workers must venture out in darkness, which puts them at danger as those are also the hours the elephants are most active.
In rubber harvesting, the latex is more easily drawn from trees in the cooler hours of the early morning. This means workers must venture out in darkness, which puts them at danger as those are also the hours the elephants are most active.
In rubber harvesting, the latex is more easily drawn from trees in the cooler hours of the early morning. This means workers must venture out in darkness, which puts them at danger as those are also the hours the elephants are most active.
In rubber harvesting, the latex is more easily drawn from trees in the cooler hours of the early morning. This means workers must venture out in darkness, which puts them at danger as those are also the hours the elephants are most active.
A wildlife volunteer displays the small but extremely loud fireworks used to scare off elephants in the event of an encounter. Many villagers in Kaeng Hang Meao choose instead to use pots and pans to disperse the animals.
A wildlife volunteer displays the small but extremely loud fireworks used to scare off elephants in the event of an encounter. Many villagers in Kaeng Hang Meao choose instead to use pots and pans to disperse the animals.
Elephants are highly respected and celebrated in Thailand, appearing on royal and government seals and emblems. Asian elephants such as those found here are considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Together these factors make finding a solution to deal with the increasing number of elephants and the danger they pose a difficult situation.
Elephants are highly respected and celebrated in Thailand, appearing on royal and government seals and emblems. Asian elephants such as those found here are considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Together these factors make finding a solution to deal with the increasing number of elephants and the danger they pose a difficult situation.
Young wildlife volunteers arrive at an area on the outskirts of town to stand vigil in case elephants approach. Various teams are positioned throughout the district and stay in radio contact with one another.
Young wildlife volunteers arrive at an area on the outskirts of town to stand vigil in case elephants approach. Various teams are positioned throughout the district and stay in radio contact with one another.
A wildlife official scans the forest on the edge of town after being alerted that wild elephants may be in the area. During the cooler nighttime hours, the elephants are more active and emerge from the dense jungle to look for food and water.
A wildlife official scans the forest on the edge of town after being alerted that wild elephants may be in the area. During the cooler nighttime hours, the elephants are more active and emerge from the dense jungle to look for food and water.
It is estimated that some 150 elephants live in the area. Meanwhile more land is being cleared for development which reduces the habitable space for the animals and making it more likely encounters between elephants and people will increase.
It is estimated that some 150 elephants live in the area. Meanwhile more land is being cleared for development which reduces the habitable space for the animals and making it more likely encounters between elephants and people will increase.
Police and wildlife officials hold back traffic while approximately 40 elephants emerge from the jungle in the early hours of a recent evening. It is thought approximately 150 elephants live in and around Chanthaburi province’s Kaeng Hang Meao district, an area home to about 36,000 human residents.
Police and wildlife officials hold back traffic while approximately 40 elephants emerge from the jungle in the early hours of a recent evening. It is thought approximately 150 elephants live in and around Chanthaburi province’s Kaeng Hang Meao district, an area home to about 36,000 human residents.
A rubber farmer tends her crop of trees in the early morning. The vast majority of people here own rubber plantations and need to harvest the trees’ latex at a time when elephants are most active.
A rubber farmer tends her crop of trees in the early morning. The vast majority of people here own rubber plantations and need to harvest the trees’ latex at a time when elephants are most active.

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