Travellers to Pala U waterfall in Hua Hin district are warned of possible encounters with wild elephants, as the animals are now turning to roads to wander for food instead of to the wilderness.
They are now spotted more frequently by motorists driving to the waterfall tourist spot on the rural road from Nong Plab to Huey Satyai, according to Kaeng Kracharn national park officials. Park rangers said they were concerned about the safety of motorists driving to tourist spots in the Pala U forest area. They said wild animals were spotted more frequently wandering for food on the rural road, which is regularly used by motorists to visit waterfalls in Pala U. Park ranger Sahat Kongsabai cited a recent incident when a fast-moving unit of the rangers had to use fire crackers to dispel several wild elephants from the road to allow stranded vehicles to pass. He said these wild animals wandered around on the road both day and night looking for food and fruits thrown on the roadside by travellers. This is the reason why the elephants changed their habits from wandering in the forest to the road instead.
He then advised motorists to strictly abide by instructions upon entering the wild elephant area while driving on the road. If they encounter elephants on the road, they must first stop and watch the reaction of the animals, he said. If elephants walk on the left shoulder, then they are advised to avoid by driving slowly away on the right side, and vice versa. But if the animal is on the middle of the road, they are advised to wait until it walks away to the roadside. Significantly, he said, motorists must not give them food, must not blow the horn, must not escalate the car engine and must not flash the headlights.