Bovine enteroviruses (BEV) are members of the genus Enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae. They are predominantly isolated from cattle feces, but also are detected in feces of other animals, including goats and deer. These viruses are found in apparently healthy animals, as well as in animals with clinical signs and several studies reported recently suggest a potential role of BEV in causing disease in animals. In this study, we surveyed the presence of BEV in domestic and wild animals in Thailand, and assessed their genetic variability. Viral RNA was extracted from fecal samples of cattle, domestic goats, Indian bison (gaurs), and deer. The 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) was amplified by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific to BEV 5’UTR. PCR products were sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically using the neighbor-joining algorithm to observe genetic variations in regions of the bovine and bovine-like enteroviral 5’UTR found in this study. BEV and BEV-like sequences were detected in the fecal samples of cattle (40/60, 67 %), gaurs (3/30, 10 %), and goats (11/46, 24 %). Phylogenetic analyses of the partial 5’UTR sequences indicated that different BEV variants (both EV-E and EV-F species) co-circulated in the domestic cattle, whereas the sequences from gaurs and goats clustered according to the animal species, suggesting that these viruses are host species-specific. Varieties of BEV and BEV-like 5’UTR sequences were detected in fecal samples from both domestic and wild animals. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the genetic variability of BEV in Thailand.

Regular monitoring of wild animal populations through the collection of behavioral and demographic data is critical for the conservation of endangered species. Identifying individual Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), for example, can contribute to our understanding of their social dynamics and foraging behavior, as well as to human-elephant conflict mitigation strategies that account for the behavior of specific individuals involved in the conflict. Wild elephants can be distinguished using a variety of different morphological traits—e.g., variations in ear and tail morphology, body scars and tumors, and tusk presence, shape, and length—with previous studies identifying elephants via direct observation or photographs taken from vehicles. When elephants live in dense forests like in Thailand, remote sensing photography can be a productive approach to capturing anatomical and behavioral information about local elephant populations. While camera trapping has been used previously to identify elephants, here we present a detailed methodology for systematic, experimenter differentiation of individual elephants using data captured from remote sensing video camera traps. In this study, we used day and night video footage collected remotely in the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand and identified 24 morphological characteristics that can be used to recognize individual elephants. A total of 34 camera traps were installed within the sanctuary as well as crop fields along its periphery, and 107 Asian elephants were identified: 72 adults, 11 sub-adults, 20 juveniles, and four infants. We predicted that camera traps would provide enough information such that classified morphological traits would aid in reliably identifying the adult individuals with a low probability of misidentification. The results indicated that there were low probabilities of misidentification between adult elephants in the population using camera traps, similar to probabilities obtained by other researchers using handheld cameras. This study suggests that the use of day and night video camera trapping can be an important tool for the long-term monitoring of wild Asian elephant behavior, especially in habitats where direct observations may be difficult.

Research on how wild animals respond to novelty is becoming more relevant as the overlap between natural habitats and human-dominated landscapes increases. Wild Asian elephants spend more time in anthropogenic landscapes as their habitat is converted to agriculture. Greater neophilia and exploration may allow elephants to successfully access agricultural resources, which may cause negative interactions with people. We compared wild elephant reactions to novel objects in two different landscapes in Thailand (near agriculture and deep inside a protected sanctuary). We also assessed consistency in measures for individuals exposed to different objects to determine whether their reactions could be considered personality traits. Elephants tested near agriculture were more neophilic and exploratory than those inside the sanctuary. However, the limited sample of elephants exposed to both novel objects did not demonstrate consistency in their reactions, and thus we could not determine whether neophilia or exploration were personality traits in this population. Neophilic and exploratory elephants likely benefit from high-quality agricultural resources, but at a potential cost to both elephants and humans. Knowledge about the elephants’ behaviour and attraction to particular landscapes could aid in human–elephant conflict mitigation efforts that consider the needs of both species and aim for more stable coexistence.

The endangered Asian elephant, Thailand’s national symbol, is increasingly affected by human–elephant conflict (HEC), now a critical conservation and socio-economic concern. This study examined 341 HEC occurrences in 34 out of 77 Thai provinces between 2014 and 2023, based on data from official and private sources. These events resulted in both human and elephant casualties and property damage. Occurrences peaked in 2018 and 2023, with significant associations found between conflict rates, regions, and periods. The Eastern region and the July-to-October period (the rainy season) emerged as key high-risk areas, likely related to additional factors such as high elephant densities and abundant crop production. Most HECs occurred in agricultural land, where elephants searched for food. The findings suggest that the July-to-October period requires heightened surveillance and additional preventive actions. The Eastern region remains a priority for intervention due to its ongoing vulnerability and the movement of elephants across provincial boundaries. Furthermore, the rise of the Northeastern region as a new hotspot underlines the need for proactive measures to prevent escalation.