Department of Livestock Development

Registration

Captive elephant national registry

DLD maintains the national database of domesticated elephants, including ownership records, movement permits, and breeding documentation. ~3,800-4,300 captive elephants are registered under this system as of 2024.

Health

Elephant health surveillance and disease control

DLD veterinarians conduct health inspections at camps and sanctuaries, covering foot-and-mouth disease, herpesvirus, and mahout-zoonotic risk. Health certification is required for elephant movement between provinces.

Welfare

Welfare standards enforcement

DLD sets minimum welfare standards for captive elephants including space, nutrition, working-hours restrictions, and training-method rules. Enforcement capacity varies by province; welfare-activist pressure is raising compliance expectations.

Breeding

Captive-breeding oversight

DLD regulates captive elephant breeding, including studbook records. Responsible breeding matters for population sustainability as wild-capture of elephants is prohibited under Thai law and international convention.

Welfare-format regulatory pressure

WAP petition, international tourism pressure, and TAT welfare-promotion policy push DLD toward stronger enforcement of welfare standards at riding camps.

Health inspection cadence

Foot-and-mouth disease and elephant herpesvirus outbreaks require DLD emergency response; health certification affects camp operating continuity.

Breeding registry accuracy

Studbook accuracy and movement-permit compliance affect CITES reporting and international wildlife-trade compliance for Thailand’s elephant sector.

Provincial enforcement capacity

DLD staffing and budget in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Surin, and Kanchanaburi — the major elephant-camp provinces — determines effective enforcement intensity.