A video of a helicopter circling and startling an elephant in Thailand’s Phu Kradueng National Park has drawn criticism, with social media users questioning the actions of the national parks department chief, Attapon Charoenchansa. The footage, shared by Attapon on December 17, comes as the park prepares to reopen after a temporary closure.
The clips show the helicopter flying near the elephant, which ran into a nearby forest, seemingly startled. Attapon explained that the helicopter was being used to survey the area in preparation for the park’s reopening on Monday. The park had been closed on December 13 following a fatal attack on a tourist by an elephant two days earlier.
According to Attapon, the elephant, known as “Si Dor Dam,” was spotted roughly two kilometers from the Wang Kwang tourist center and near a landfill, likely drawn by the scent of salt and food scraps. He defended the use of the helicopter, stating it was intended to guide the animal away from areas frequented by tourists, adding that two other elephants in the vicinity also needed to be moved for safety reasons.
The video has sparked mixed reactions online. Critics argue that disturbing the animals contradicts conservation principles, with one commenter accusing Attapon of prioritizing tourism over wildlife welfare. Others expressed concern for the elephant’s well-being, questioning whether the actions were necessary or humane.
Attapon maintained that the measures were taken to ensure the safety of both visitors and the animals, emphasizing the need to prevent further incidents as the park reopens.
