Diesel shortage forces Ayutthaya elephants to walk

2026-03-18 - 03:50

AYUTTHAYA — 18 March 2026, A diesel shortage in parts of Thailand has forced an elephant camp in Ayutthaya to change its operations, with elephants now walking to work instead of being transported by truck, raising concerns over wider impacts on animal care. At 07:30, 15 elephants from the Royal Elephant Kraal Village in Suan Phrik subdistrict were led on foot over a distance of about 5 kilometres to Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, located within the Ayutthaya Historical Park. The unusual procession drew attention from residents along the route. The movement was carried out in two rounds for safety, with seven elephants departing first, followed by eight more at 08:00. Laitongrian Meephan, owner of the elephant camp and president of the Thai Elephant Alliance Association, said the camp typically uses two trailer trucks to transport elephants between the village and the tourist site. However, ongoing diesel shortages and fuel rationing at petrol stations have made it difficult to secure sufficient supplies. “Previously, it was said there was no fuel shortage, but in reality the situation is now clearly affecting operators,” he said. As a result, the camp has reverted to traditional methods, allowing elephants to walk in order to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining tourism services. The number of working elephants has been reduced from around 35 per day to 15, while older animals still require transport to access food sources. Safety measures have been put in place during the walks, including staggered movement to allow traffic to pass, motorcycle escorts, and trailers to collect waste immediately to keep roads clean. Laitongrian warned that if the fuel shortage persists, it could disrupt the supply of elephant food, particularly pineapples transported from Rayong province. He called for public support through food donations if needed and said elephants might have to forage naturally to cope with the situation. A truck driver transporting pineapples from Rayong said he struggled to find fuel along the route, stopping at more than 16 petrol stations without success. He was eventually able to refuel only limited amounts due to rationing, with some stations restricting diesel sales and warning of delays of up to five days for new supplies. He said a typical round trip would require about 6,000 baht in fuel, but current limits of 500 to 1,000 baht per fill have severely disrupted logistics. While he managed to deliver the food, he remained uncertain about having enough fuel for the return journey. The diesel shortage, reported in several areas, is affecting not only transport but also tourism and elephant care in Ayutthaya, with operators facing rising costs and uncertainty if the situation continues.