Growing concern is mounting in Wang Nam Khieo district, Nakhon Ratchasima, over increasing encounters with wild gaurs, prompting calls for enhanced safety measures. The urgency of the situation was underscored by a recent incident on Highway No 3052, where a mother and her daughter suffered injuries after a gaur attacked their motorbike, resulting in the daughter being momentarily taken into a forest.
Members of the Wang Nam Khieo tourism club, representing local tourism businesses, are calling for governmental intervention to mitigate the risks posed by wild gaurs. Their suggestions include installing more lights along highways to improve visibility at night, following numerous incidents involving gaurs and vehicles.
The group is also advocating for better management of feeding areas in Thap Lan and Khao Yai National Parks. They noted that enhancing these areas could help alleviate the issue of insufficient food for the increasing herbivore populations in the parks, which has been forcing gaurs to venture near human dwellings for sustenance.
Annop Buanuan, who manages the Khao Phaeng Ma Non-Hunting Area, confirmed that the gaur involved in a recent attack had left the park in search of food.
In response to 11 incidents over the past three years, authorities have designated 22 locations in Wang Nam Khieo district as high-risk zones for gaur encounters. Drivers are advised to limit their speed to below 20 kilometers per hour in these areas, although there are concerns about the nighttime visibility of these warnings. (NNT)
