Phuket elephant bolts, spooked by blood sample needle

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

Livestock officials take a blood sample from one of the elephants at the camp yesterday (Jan 19). Photo: Phrayai Changthai elephant

 

PHUKET: -- Livestock officials carrying out the current campaign to identify and register all legal elephants in Phuket got a serious fright yesterday (Jan 19) when a 15-year-old bull elephant reared and bolted while the officers were trying take a blood sample.

 

A team of 30 officials from the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office were taking blood samples and checking microchip implants from the six elephants at the Phrayai Changthai elephant camp in Soi Yodsanae, in Chalong, when the incident happened.

 

“When we came to check the 15-year-old male elephant called ‘Kongthong’, the mahout warned us that the elephant would not like this,” explained Thawee Sawadwech, Livestock Office Chief for Phuket’s Muang District.

 

However, the officers continued with their efforts and inserted the large needle.

 

“Kongthong reared his head up then ran off. His mahout couldn’t control him, but luckily the elephant stopped about about 100 metres away,” Mr Thawee said.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-elephant-bolts-spooked-by-blood-sample-needle-60693.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-01-20

I would like to 'bolt' too when I am forced to give blood for my regular blood tests. I feel for the elephant.

With bull elephants there tend to be quite often issues. I think that next time this elephants bolts there will be people on the back or in the way.

What the elephants have to go threw here TIT

Seen one of those before and of course they never forget!