A school in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Soeng Sang district has resorted to using a drone in an attempt to chase away thousands of herons, which have occupied a forest close to the school, out of fears that their presence could bring diseases.
The attempt failed to drive out all the birds, with most remaining in trees.
The birds arrived in April this year to an area which is about 50 metres from Bansa Prateep School’s canteens and about 100 metres from the student buildings. Their numbers grew fast and it is estimated that there are now nearly 4,000.
Their droppings cause a bad odour and when they die, the smell worsens. Soeng Sang authorities stepped in, at the request of the school, which fears the spread of disease.
Attempts to chase the birds away, including using high pressure water, have failed.
Recently, officials from Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation visited the area to gather samples, to check whether they carried diseases.
Supot Tinkrato, a school janitor, said that more birds came to the area because there is a big pond nearby, in which there is plenty of food for them. His routine job is to make a loud noise to drive them away, but still to no avail.
Meanwhile, Saowakon Polchimphan, a teacher, said that a recent meeting with authorities resolved that the school will trim the trees to destroy the habitat of the birds.
