Drone Disturbs Elephants at Khao Yai’s Tung Kwang — Calls for Park Enforcement

It was a scene that could have been mistaken for a wildlife documentary gone wrong: at Tung Kwang Mineral Lick in Khao Yai National Park, a drone’s whirring suddenly turned a peaceful elephant gathering into a frantic dash for safety. The footage, shot on January 21, shows the moment a large female elephant breaks away from her herd and bolts into the forest — spooked by a small metal hobbyist encroaching from the sky.

The location is one of Khao Yai’s most cherished wildlife-viewing spots in Nakhon Nayok province, where animals come to lick mineral-rich soil and visitors patiently wait for the natural drama of nature to unfold. Instead, yesterday’s drama came courtesy of a man in a white T-shirt who had parked a Suzuki by the roadside and launched a drone — allegedly close enough to the herd to cause visible distress.

Videos of the incident spread across Thai social media like wildfire. In seconds, the soothing backdrop of rustling trees and lumbering elephants had been replaced by heated comments, anger, and an avalanche of sympathetic messages for the frightened animals. Netizens called the footage “unacceptable” and urged park authorities to track down the operator and hold him accountable. The drone was eventually recalled to its operator, but the damage — and the questions — had already been done.

Why does this matter so much? Because it’s not just about a startled animal or an awkward tourist faux pas. Elephants, when scared, can act unpredictably: they may charge, run onto roads, or collide with vehicles — putting not only themselves at risk, but also the people around them. Tung Kwang sits near a roadside gathering point; a panicked elephant dashing toward traffic could spark accidents that would be dangerous and tragic.

Under Thailand’s national park regulations, drones are not a casual toy to be flown wherever you please. Operators must obtain permission from the head of the national park in question and secure clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). If the drone is being used for commercial purposes, there’s another hoop to jump through — permission from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, plus applicable fees. Put plainly: fly a drone near protected wildlife without the paperwork, and you’re breaking the rules — with potentially serious consequences.

Thai social media didn’t just gripe — users voiced a swell of sympathy for the elephants and demanded that park officials identify the operator and take legal action. Many commenters framed the incident as a reminder: these animals are not props for amateur aerial filming. They are sentient, vulnerable, and deserving of space and protection.

As of this writing, Khao Yai National Park officials and related authorities have not released an official statement about the January 21 incident. That silence has only intensified calls for a formal response and visible enforcement. People want to know what penalties will be applied and how the park will prevent this from happening again.

To complicate the day’s headlines, another clip circulated showing an apparent violation of park rules: a motorcyclist driving through a herd of elephants crossing a road inside a national park. The user who uploaded that video said the rider was a foreign national, but authorities have not confirmed this identity. The two videos together painted a picture of careless human behavior putting wildlife—and fellow visitors—at risk.

There’s a lesson here that’s both simple and urgent. National parks are sanctuaries, not social media stages. Rules governing drones, vehicles, and proximity to wildlife exist for a reason: to reduce stress on animals and to keep people safe. A drone that seems harmless from a distance can sound terrifying close up to an elephant with vulnerable calves. A motorbike weaving through a lumbering herd might be a fast thrill for a rider, but it could turn catastrophic for the animals and other visitors.

For visitors to Khao Yai and parks everywhere, a few commonsense steps would go a long way: respect posted rules, keep a safe distance from wildlife, and if you plan to use a drone for legitimate reasons, secure the proper permits from park authorities and CAAT well in advance. If you witness reckless behavior, alert park staff immediately — your call could prevent harm.

Watching those viral videos, it’s hard not to feel a pang of frustration — and a surge of hope. Frustration that a beautiful, ancient species was made anxious by a buzzing pastime. Hope because the same online attention that amplified the incident could spur quicker action, better enforcement, and broader awareness about how to visit parks responsibly.

Until officials clarify the next steps, the images of a frightened elephant disappearing into the trees will linger. Let them be a reminder: in the wild, the rules aren’t just formalities — they are the thin line between awe and disaster. Respect that line, and the planet thanks you.