Deceased Baby Elephant Found Floating in Chachoengsao Canal

In a tragic incident, a 2 year old wild elephant was found dead, its body floating in a canal near the edge of a forest in Chachoengsao province. Local villagers, who discovered the elephant, reported it to authorities, suspecting that the baby elephant became separated from its mother and herd, leading to its drowning.

On November 12, at approximately 16:30, Ekachai Saendee, the recently appointed head of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, received a report from volunteer rescue workers from Phanom Station in Thung Praya. They informed him of the elephant calf’s body in a natural canal near the forest edge behind Nong Krating Village in Tambon Tha Kradan, Sanam Chai Khet District.

Ekachai led a conservation team to the site, accompanied by veterinarians from the Kabok Khu Wildlife Rescue Centre and soldiers from Ranger Unit 1306. The journey to the location was challenging due to rough terrain and the presence of wild elephant herds foraging in the area, making the task even more perilous.

Upon arrival, the team found the young elephant’s bloated body tangled in dense vegetation within the canal, emitting a strong odour. Heavy equipment, including a backhoe, was brought in to clear the thick aquatic plants. Once cleared, rescue volunteers carefully secured the elephant’s body with ropes and pulled it to the canal bank. The condition of the corpse, swollen and severely decomposed, suggested the elephant had been dead for over a week.

Initial assessments indicate that the baby elephant likely became separated from its herd and fell into the canal, which was overgrown with vegetation, obstructing its ability to escape and ultimately leading to its drowning.

Ekachai Saendee, new to his position as head of the sanctuary, instructed conservation officers to transport the remains to the Kabok Khu Wildlife Rescue Center for examination by veterinary experts. Following standard procedures, the body will be processed before being buried in accordance with conservation protocols.

Picture courtesy of Wildlife Sanctuary.

-- 2024-11-14