Lost Baby Elephant Rescued Safely After 5-Day Search

Pictures courtesy of Komchadluek 

A lost baby elephant in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary has been rescued safely after an intensive five-day search involving forest rangers, villagers and veterinary teams. The young elephant, which had been separated from its herd due to flash floods, was captured safely at around 16:40 on 9 November 2025. Wildlife officials have confirmed the animal is now under close veterinary observation.

The operation was confirmed by Mr. Jiradet Boonmak, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Office of Conservation Area 12 (Nakhon Sawan). He said the successful rescue followed a coordinated effort led by Mr. Permsak Kanitchachat, Chief of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, after receiving reports of a missing elephant calf near the boundary of Ban Khao Mai Nuan, Moo 18, and Ban Pong Samsip, Moo 3, in Lan Sak District, Uthai Thani Province.

The incident began on 5 November 2025, when Mr. Chatree Niamhom, headman of Moo 18, reported that villagers had heard an elephant calf crying near the forest edge adjacent to farmland. Heavy rain and flash floods at the time were believed to have separated the calf from its herd, possibly washing it across the stream. Rangers deployed drones to search the area but found no trace of the animal.

On 6 November, wildlife tracking units and the Wang Phai forest protection team continued the search but found only footprints heading deeper into the forest near the checkpoint at Ban Saothong. Persistent rain and safety risks from wild herds forced them to suspend operations temporarily. The next day, 7 November, monks at Wat Pa Luang Pu Mun in Ban Saothong reported seeing the lost calf within the temple grounds. However, the animal panicked when chased by dogs and ran back into the forest before rangers could reach it.

By 8 November, officers from the Huai Kha Khaeng sanctuary and local volunteers set up monitoring teams near the temple and traced the elephant’s footprints back towards the forest in Moo 18. On the afternoon of 9 November, the search concluded successfully when villagers spotted the calf near the edge of a plantation. Rangers and residents managed to corner and safely secure the animal.

Mr. Jiradet praised the teamwork between forest rangers and local communities, calling it a model of cooperation in wildlife protection. Veterinary officers from the Office of Conservation Area 12 and the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Breeding Station have since entered the area to assess the elephant’s condition and provide continued care. 

Key Takeaways

• A baby elephant separated from its herd was rescued safely after a five-day search in Uthai Thani.

• The operation involved drones, local villagers, monks and multiple forest protection units.

• Veterinary teams are now monitoring the calf’s health and condition closely.

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Komchadluek 2025-11-11