Wild Elephant Found Electrocuted in Orchard

Picture courtesy of CH7.

A male wild elephant has been found dead in a fruit orchard in Chonburi province, believed to have been electrocuted by a low-hanging power line. The animal was discovered without its tusks, though officials confirmed there were no signs of poaching or foul play.

On April 15, rangers from the mobile patrol unit in Chonburi were alerted to the discovery of the elephant carcass near a rural area in Moo 2, Khlong Phlu sub-district, Nong Yai district, roughly 40 kilometres from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary.

The deceased elephant, estimated to weigh about 2,000 kilograms and standing about 1.9 metres tall, was found lying on its right side near a jackfruit tree at the edge of the orchard. The body was already bloated, attracting flies, suggesting it had been dead for four to five days.

Electric wires were found near the elephant’s mouth, and an inspection revealed injuries consistent with electrocution. A 35mm-thick black insulated cable was discovered next to the body, along with a broken low-voltage utility pole. Another nearby pole was still standing but had a snapped wire hanging loosely.

Officials noted that there was no evidence of the electrical wire being intentionally stripped or modified to act as an electric fence, and no external wounds or foreign objects were found on the carcass. The elephant’s tusks were missing, but authorities believe the animal was naturally tuskless, a not-uncommon trait in some male elephants.

The orchard caretaker, 69-year-old Mr. Chamroen, told officials he had not visited the area for several days and only became aware of the elephant’s death when someone gathering banana leaves stumbled upon the body.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation confirmed the cause of death as electrocution. The carcass has since been buried, and a report has been filed with Nong Yai Police Station to formally document the case. 

Authorities will continue investigating to determine how the electric wires came to pose such a deadly hazard and are urging increased safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

-- 2025-04-17