Suchart Urges Full Vet Support for Rescued Baby Elephant in Sai Yok
Thailand's Natural Resources Minister orders veterinary teams to closely monitor a rescued male baby elephant under two weeks old after a perilous flash flood rescue operation in Sai Yok National Park.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Minister Suchart Klinpratoom ordered veterinary teams to closely care for a rescued baby elephant in Sai Yok.
- The male calf is under two weeks old, severely dehydrated, and suffering from multiple wounds.
- Wildlife officials braved strong currents and heavy rain by boat to reach and rescue the stranded calf.
On August 1, 2026, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Klinpratoom expressed his concern regarding the rescue of a stray baby elephant found exhausted and injured in Sai Yok National Park, Kanchanaburi province. He sent encouragement to all officers working through difficult weather and treacherous river currents, while urgently ordering the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation veterinary team to provide intensive medical care.
Mr. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, reported that on July 30, 2026, at 06:00 AM, the Sai Yok National Park Protection Unit 5 (Nam Noi River) was alerted by villagers in Ban Nam Noi, Sai Yok district, about a lone baby elephant near the Nam Noi stream bank. Reaching the remote location required a 1 to 2-hour boat ride.
"I have received reports about the stray baby elephant and am deeply concerned about its condition as it is very small and in critical condition. I send my encouragement and thanks to all officers and the veterinary team who sacrificed and dedicated themselves through rain and strong currents to rescue and care for it."
Suchart Klinpratoom
Inspectors found the calf approximately 30 centimeters from the water's edge on a steep slope with a walking clearance of only 1.5 meters. It is believed the herd crossed the river and the calf was swept away by strong currents. Heavy rainfall over the preceding two days raised water levels in the stream. Officers monitored the calf overnight, noting it called out for its mother periodically with no response from the herd.
On July 31, 2026, at 09:00 AM, veterinary teams from Protected Area Regional Office 3 (Ban Pong) and the Phetchaburi branch assessed the calf. They identified it as a male weighing approximately 40 kilograms, aged under two weeks, suffering from severe exhaustion, extreme dehydration, skin abrasions, blistered wounds, a navel wound, and coin-sized mouth ulcers. Its trunk had blisters with necrotic tissue, bee-like insects swarmed its eyes causing conjunctivitis, its urine was dark yellow-red, and its diarrhea carried a sour odor.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Stray baby elephant incidents of this nature often peak during the rainy season when flash floods prevent elephant herds from waiting or safely crossing swollen rivers to retrieve stranded calves. Comprehensive health evaluations and screening for young elephant illnesses such as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) are critical steps to maximize the survival chances of young wildlife returning to nature.
Concluding that the calf was in critical condition, veterinarians transferred it to the Sai Yok National Park headquarters at 04:00 PM on the same day. Temporary quarantine quarters were established, treated with disinfectant, and staffed with rotating shifts under veterinary supervision. Testing for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) was scheduled for August 1 while the calf remains isolated for close monitoring.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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