Wild elephant in Thailand dies en route to sanctuary
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A male elephant, estimated to be between 15 and 20 years old, died while being transported en route to a sanctuary.
PHOTO: KITTI.INSAMRAN.7/FACEBOOK
BANGKOK – Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) issued a formal apology following the death of a wild elephant, known as Sido Hoo-pub, during a high-risk relocation operation.
The male elephant, estimated to be between 15 and 20 years old, died while being transported from Khon Kaen province to a restoration area in Loei province.
The relocation was not discretionary but was conducted under a temporary injunction issued by the Khon Kaen Administrative Court.
The elephant, originally from Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, was a fixture in local agricultural areas.
Concerns for public safety intensified after it was involved in a fatal encounter with a local resident.
The DNP said the operation was intended to balance the protection of human life with the welfare of the animal by returning it to a more suitable natural habitat.
Officials added that failure to act would have left the agency in contempt of court and exposed the local community to continued risk.
Despite the presence of specialist veterinarians and the use of international transport protocols, including precise sedative dosing and constant monitoring of vital signs, the elephant suffered a “sudden physiological crisis” during the journey.
The convoy was halted immediately as medical teams attempted emergency resuscitation, including airway clearance and intravenous fluids, but the efforts proved unsuccessful.
Preliminary assessments suggest the elephant may have suffocated after choking on food, although a full necropsy is required for confirmation.
In a bid for transparency, the DNP has appointed an expert committee to conduct a systematic review of the entire operation.
The investigation will include:
Pathological and toxicological testing: to determine whether underlying health issues or chemical imbalances contributed to the death.
Review of standard operating procedures: specifically looking at pre-transport fasting requirements and health assessments.
Public accountability: a pledge to release the full findings once the investigation is concluded.
“We will take the lessons learnt from this tragedy to refine our approach,” a DNP spokesperson stated.
“The challenge of managing human-elephant conflict remains immense, and we must ensure both public safety and animal welfare are protected more effectively in the future.” THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
