Thailand Introduces Elephant Birth Control to Address Population Growth

The initiative aims to prevent human-elephant conflicts as shrinking habitats lead to deadly encounters.

Thailand plans to regulate its wild elephant population, currently estimated at 4,000, by using long-lasting contraceptive injections called SpayVac.
Projections indicate the elephant population could grow to 6,000 within four years, exceeding the capacity of available forest habitats.
Shrinking habitats have led to increasing human-elephant conflicts, resulting in at least 240 human deaths and over 200 injuries since 2012.
Officials warn that without intervention, annual fatalities caused by wild elephants could rise to 100 in the near future.
A trial of the contraceptive program is set to begin early next year in Thailand's eastern forests, with plans to expand if successful.