Boiling instant noodles and eggs is okay. Want to stir-fry basil leaves with chili and minced pork? What about a moo krata outdoor barbecue? Those are hard nos.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has imposed new rules banning national park visitors from cooking food with a “strong odor” to prevent attracting wildlife such as monkeys and deer.
The department’s director, Damras Phoprasit, said the newly imposed regulation will also help protect the environment, as campfire smoke may adversely impact the surroundings.
“Can you imagine tourists in 200 tents cooking and grilling at the same time? The smoke could blanket the area,” Damras said. “Let’s not forget that national parks must be a model in maintaining the environment.”
However, simple meals that lack “pungent odors” can still be made by campers, such as boiling water to make instant noodles, eggs, tea and coffee. Cooking can now only be done at designated times, depending on what’s posted at each campsite, such as from 6pm to 9pm only.
At the outset, the rules are being piloted at Khao Yai National Park’s Lam Takhong Campground before being rolled out to parks nationwide. Khao Yai, the country’s most-visited park, was where a camper was fatally mauled by a wild elephant some blamed on food in the man’s car and tent.
Those campers who still want to savor grilled meat without being fined by park rangers or, worse, being raided by a monkey gang; officials say they will provide appropriate “cooking zones.”
In the future, Damras said, the department will consider building small canteens for visitors’ convenience.
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