Atthapol expresses sorrow for fatal relocation operation, says independent inquiry is under wayAtthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, is joined by officials involved in the elephant relocation programme, including veterinarian Kittiyaporn Iamasaad (left) at a briefing on Feb 12, 2026. (Photo: Department of National Parks Facebook)The head of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Thursday defended his agency’s handling of a fatal elephant relocation operation, while protesters continued to demand his resignation. Despite careful planning, Seedor Hu Pub experienced a sudden physiological crisis after the relocation began at 10.50pm on Feb 3. The public outcryMore than 200 activists demonstrated at parks department headquarters on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of director-general Atthapol Charoenchansa over the failed operation. Their five demands include the director-general’s resignation, an independent veterinary ethics investigation, review of stakeholders’ land rights documentation, halting elephant sterilisation and contraception programmes, and ending elephant displacement operations.

Source: Bangkok Post February 12, 2026 19:05 UTC