Picture from responders.

 

A young wild elephant from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans five eastern provinces of Thailand, has been found dead under mysterious circumstances on a dirt road near a sugarcane plantation in Chachoengsao province. The elephant’s body bore dried blood stains and multiple old wounds resembling shotgun pellet impacts.

 

At around 11:30 on 20 February, conservation officers from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, along with local administrative officials and rescue volunteers from Phanom Sarakham, were dispatched to the scene in Khlong Takrao subdistrict, Tha Takiap district, following reports from a local fisherman who had discovered the body.

 

The elephant, an eight-year-old male weighing approximately five tonnes, was found lying on its side, blocking the dirt road that runs through eucalyptus plantations, sugarcane fields, and oil palm farms. The scene was located about 300 metres from a quarry road and connected to routes leading into Bo Thong district, Chonburi. The elephant had a single long, sharp tusk on its left side, measuring about 50 centimetres. Its body was positioned with its trunk curved towards the sugarcane plantation, while its tail and hindquarters remained near the eucalyptus trees.

 

Upon examination, conservation officers found dried blood streaks running down the elephant’s left side and pooling along its underside. The body was also covered in deep, old wounds resembling shotgun pellet entry points, with some injuries partially healed while others remained open but were beginning to close over with scar tissue.

 

A particularly large open wound, approximately 15 centimetres long, was discovered near the tip of the elephant’s trunk. The cut appeared to be either from a sharp object or a grazing bullet wound, with the inner tissue beginning to dry.

 

Authorities are awaiting the arrival of forensic officers from Tha Takiap Police Station and veterinarians from Protected Area Region 2 to conduct a full autopsy. The investigation aims to determine the cause of death and assess whether the elephant was a victim of poaching or conflict with local communities.

 

-- 2025-02-21

 

UPDATE
Wild Elephant Electrocuted: Authorities Launch Investigation

Picture courtesy of DNP

 

Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has launched an urgent investigation following the electrocution of a wild elephant in Chachoengsao province. A post-mortem examination confirmed burn marks and signs of sudden cardiac arrest, prompting authorities to track down those responsible.

 

The male elephant, weighing 6,060 kilograms and standing 3.1 metres tall, was discovered on 20 February in Ban Thammarat, Klong Takrao subdistrict, Tha Takiap district—outside the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. The elephant had a single left tusk, measuring 110 cm in length along the outer curve and 38 cm in circumference at the base.

 

Upon receiving the report, Mr. Kongkiat Temthamman, Director of Protected Areas Office 2 (Si Racha), dispatched a rapid response team from Chonburi, a military unit from Khao Yai Special Task Force, and wildlife sanctuary officers to investigate.

 

A team of veterinarians, led by Dr. Siriwich Supanake from the Wildlife Conservation Division, conducted an autopsy at Khao Yai Forest Protection Unit in Bo Thong district, Chonburi.

 

The examination revealed burn marks beneath the trunk and on the roof of the mouth, along with fluid accumulation around the heart and internal bleeding, consistent with electrocution-induced cardiac arrest.

 

The elephant’s stomach contents included fibrous plant material with a molasses-like scent, suspected to be sugarcane, suggesting the animal had been foraging near agricultural land before its death. Vital organs, including the liver, spleen, and kidneys, appeared normal.

 

Officials have secured the elephant’s tusk at the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary and buried the remains following conservation protocols. Authorities have also filed an official police report at Bo Thong Police Station and pledged to identify those responsible.

 

The DNP is now working with local agencies to prevent further incidents and ensure stricter protections for wild elephants venturing outside protected areas.

 

-- 2025-02-22