A tragic discovery was made when the carcass of a young wild elephant, weighing 1.5 tonnes, was found shot dead in a rubber plantation in Chanthaburi province. Veterinarians are urgently conducting an autopsy to gather evidence and identify the perpetrator.
The local police in Kaeng Hang Maeo were alerted by residents who stumbled upon the elephant carcass in a rubber plantation near the entrance to Wat Pa Khao Phai temple in Phawa on the border of Khun Song. The discovery prompted an immediate response from various authorities, including the Kaeng Hang Maeo police, military rangers, special operations unit 613 from Nong Makha, and local village leaders. They coordinated with Sriracha’s Protected Area Regional Office 2 to send a team of veterinarians to the site for an investigation.
The elephant was found approximately 200 metres from the road, deep within the rubber plantation. This young male elephant, estimated to be between seven and 10 years old, had tusks measuring about 7 to 8 inches. The inspection revealed bullet wounds, with one bullet entering through the right ear and lodging in the temple, and others in the front left knee and right rear heel. Two 9mm bullet casings were discovered at the scene, which were photographed and collected as evidence.
In a bid to further investigate, a backhoe and a six-wheeled truck from Phawa’s municipality were arranged to transport the elephant carcass to the Khlong Khok Forest Protection Unit. This would allow the veterinary team to conduct a thorough autopsy, remove the bullets, and determine the precise cause of death.
The rubber plantation where the elephant was found belongs to an owner in Rayong province. On the morning of the incident, a Lao worker responsible for tapping the rubber trees discovered the elephant. He immediately informed the village head and coordinated with the police for an investigation.
The village headman’s assistant, 50 year old Prasit Kamrak stated that the elephants usually roam individually in this area. He speculated that the young elephant might have been driven away by the leader of its group. Based on the bullet wounds, it is suspected that the shooting was either an act of self defence or an attempt to drive the elephant away. However, further confirmation is pending the results of the veterinary examination.
A local rubber plantation owner, 60 year old Mit Wirath, shared his experience, having moved into the area to cultivate rubber in 1985. Back then, the forest was dense with only a few wild elephants. Today, the elephant population has increased significantly, leading to more frequent encounters with local agricultural areas. This has resulted in several human fatalities due to elephant attacks, while elephants themselves have also suffered harm at the hands of humans.
Despite efforts to monitor and alert communities about elephant movements, coverage remains inadequate. Wirath expressed a desire for relevant authorities to increase personnel and enhance measures for monitoring and managing elephants to reduce losses on both sides. This includes effective population control of elephants to ensure a safer coexistence between humans and these majestic creatures, reported KhaoSod.
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