Khao Yai NP clarifies use of sparklers to push Plai Sarika

Thairath•Society•20h ago

Reader Briefing

Khao Yai National Park officials clarified the use of sparklers to push a wild elephant named Plai Sarika out of a community area in Nakhon Nayok.

•Officials used sparklers to push Plai Sarika and a herd of over 20 elephants out of a durian orchard on July 12, 2026.
•The action followed online criticism regarding photos and clips showing the proximity of officials to the elephant.
•Plai Sarika was in a state of musth, making the elephant more aggressive and less responsive to gentle pushing methods.
•Khao Yai National Park has appointed a committee to investigate the facts of the incident.

•Plai Sarika and over 20 wild elephants entered a residents' durian orchard in Sarika Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Nayok Province on July 12, 2026.
•Sathaporn Teerawat stated Plai Sarika was in musth for the past 2 months, increasing aggression and reducing environmental awareness.
•Rapid response officials used sparklers instead of loud noise devices to attract visual attention and stop the elephant's advance without causing physical injury.
•Chaiya Huayhongthong apologized to the public for the discomfort caused by the images and explained that camera angles made the distance look shorter than it was.
•Khao Yai National Park appointed a committee to conduct a detailed factual investigation into the incident.
•The Mueang Nakhon Nayok District Office apologized for the potentially inappropriate performance of duties and promised to review operational guidelines.
•Khao Yai National Park will increase daily risk assessments of Plai Sarika's movements with wildlife academics and collaborate with communities to manage attractant food sources.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Khao Yai National Park(อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาใหญ่)ℹ️

The organization responsible for managing the park and pushing the wild elephant out of the community area.

Mueang Nakhon Nayok District Office(ที่ว่าการอำเภอเมืองนครนายก)

The local administrative office that investigated the incident and issued a public apology.

Plai Sarika(พลายสาริกา)

A wild elephant in the Ban Sarika area that entered a durian orchard while in musth.

Ban Sarika(บ้านสาริกา)

The village area in Nakhon Nayok where the incident occurred.

Sarika Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Nayok Province(ต.สาริกา อ.เมือง จ.นครนายก)

The location where the wild elephant entered the residential area.

Chaiya Huayhongthong(ชัยยา ห้วยหงษ์ทอง)

The Head of Khao Yai National Park who clarified the facts and apologized to the public.

Sathaporn Teerawat(สถาพร ธีระวัฒน์)

The Head of National Park Management Zone 6 who provided technical information on the elephant's musth condition.