KANCHANABURI, 21st July 2019 (NNT) -Natural Resources and Environment Minister Warawut Silpa-archa has visited Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary and met with local villagers affected by the presence of wild elephants.
Mr Warawut visited Salak Phra wildlife sanctuary in the capital district of Kanchanaburi province and met with local villagers who have been affected by wild elephants eating their farm crops. Vasant Sunchirat, Kamnan of Chong Sadao tambon, Vanida Buasorn, Kamnan of Wang Dong tambon and a number of villagers who brandished placards calling on the minister for help.
The villagers also asked the minister to help clear up allegations that their farmland overlaps with the sanctuary area. Mr Warawut talked with the villagers for nearly an hour, accepted their complaints and had pictures taken with them. The villagers apparently demanded that the minister provide a budget for the creation of food and water sources for the wild elephants in the inner part of the wildlife sanctuary. Besides, another budget is demanded for the excavation of waterways and iron fences along the waterways. The existing electric fences cannot keep the elephants from encroaching upon the farmland.
Mr Warawut met with high-ranking government officials at the operation center of Salak Phra wildlife sanctuary for about two hours. He planted a Yellow Star tree as a memento of the occasion at the center.
