Police are using the long trunk of the law - riding elephants to patrol a tourist city in Thailand.

Officials held a ceremony marking the launch of the 'Ayutthaya Elephant Patrol Police' unit in Ayutthaya province on October 21.

High-ranking officers, delegates from tourism organisations, and local and tourist police attended the event as five elephants were paraded around the UNESCO-recognised Ayutthaya Historical Park.

Police Major General Chayanont Meesati, commander of the Ayutthaya Provincial Police, said the new jumbo-riding contingent was established to boost police security and attract more holidaymakers to the province.

He said: 'Tourists will be assured that they can travel safely in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. And when they feel confident in their safety, they can also invite their friends to come visit, drumming up business for the local community.'

Police Colonel Phuris Chintranan, superintendent of the Ayutthaya Police Station, said that Ayutthaya province is steeped in history, with some of its archaeological ruins declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

He said: 'Ayutthaya attracts over a hundred thousand Thai and foreign tourists, especially during long holidays. Therefore, the Ayutthaya Police have collaborated with various sectors to conduct patrols and ensure the safety and convenience of tourists.'

He added that the elephant patrol will also collaborate with bicycle patrol units 'to enhance their service to tourists.'

As of 2023, there are an estimated 3,084-3,500 wild elephants in Thailand. The population has been increasing in recent years, but it is still a fraction of the estimated 300,000 wild elephants that lived in Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. The main threats to wild elephants in Thailand are habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and conflict with humans.