NationThailand-Oct 13
Among the more 4,000 elephants in Thailand, two hold a special honor: both were born using artificial insemination in a bid to protect the species and maintain the country’s biodiversity. According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation as of March 9 this year, between 4,013 and 4,422 elephants lived in 91 national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and non-hunting areas across Thailand. However, the destruction of habitat and insufficient food sources were having a significant impact on elephants’ health and reducing their numbers. That led to the launch in 2002 of a project to freeze elephant semen to be used in artificial insemination. The project, which came to fruition through the collaboration of the Zoological Park Organisation, Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, saw two elephants being born through artificial insemination. The project is continuing with other protected species, such as the eastern sarus crane, white rhinoceros, the tapir, Fea’s muntjac, the serow, the clouded leopard, the marbled cat, the fishing cat, the Asian golden cat, and the goral.
The aim is to prevent further extinction of animals in Thailand, which has seen the disappearance of Schomburgk’s deer, the Javan rhinoceros, the Sumatran rhinoceros and the kouprey. Read more at: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40031858
