RATCHABURI: Farmers have cried foul over wild boar raids that damaged their farms, causing at least one to switch to another crop the beasts might find less tasty.
Sornkheree Buajaeng said boars had emerged from Phachee River Wildlife Reserve to eat his ripe pineapples, causing damage of 70,000 baht to his three-rai plantation in Ban Kha district.
At least 10 animals raided his orchard during a downpour and returned to the forest leaving fruit husks scattered on the ground, he added.
The farmer alerted park officials, who visited the orchard on Saturday.
Wayukrit Srisunon, an official from the wildlife reserve, said he will send park rangers to protect the farm and advised Mr Sornkheree to build a fence to protect his fruits from boars.
Tapioca trees in another orchard in the same district were also raided by the animals. (Photo by Saichol Srinuanchan)
Somchai Luangphoka, a cassava farmer in the same district, said he had erected a fence but boars still broke into the farm to eat his product.
Mr Somchai said he decided to change from pineapples to cassava for the first time this year after his pineapple farm has been attacked by boars for the past four years.
He hoped his cassava would survive the attacks -- but the animals still came to eat his tapioca roots.