Newborn Baby Girl Abandoned in Cardboard Box Found Safe in Tak

Pictures courtesy of NBT

Authorities in Tak province are investigating after a newborn baby girl was discovered abandoned in a cardboard box near a village playground in Wang Chao district early on the morning of 20 August.

At around 06.30, police at Wang Chao station were alerted to the presence of an infant left beside the community hall in Khlong Chiang Thong village, Pradang sub-district. Officers, along with emergency medical staff from Wang Chao Hospital, rushed to the scene.

The baby, wrapped in cloth and placed inside a small water cup box, was found alive and crying. She was less than a month old and in stable condition, though showing signs of hunger. Medics gave her immediate care before transferring her first to Wang Chao Hospital and later to Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharaj Hospital for specialised treatment.

The child, given the temporary name “Sala Pao”, weighs 3.09 kilograms and is 48 centimetres long. Officials from the Department of Children and Youth, police, hospital staff and the provincial children’s shelter are jointly handling her case. For now, outsiders are not permitted to visit or adopt the baby until investigations and legal processes are complete.

A local resident who discovered the child told police that he had heard a car stop outside his house at around 03:00, but did not think much of it at the time. At around 06:15, while preparing food for almsgiving, he heard the sound of a baby crying and dogs barking. On checking, he found the infant abandoned near the community hall, close to Wat Tha Takroh.

Police are now reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses in an effort to trace the mother or the person who left the child.

Local officials, including village headwoman Atchariya Onlamom, confirmed that the baby is now safe and under the protection of medical staff and social services.

Authorities emphasised that the infant will remain in state care while investigations continue, and that any future adoption or guardianship will be handled strictly in accordance with child welfare procedures.

  Adapted by Asean Now from NBT 2025-08-21