Suchart orders investigation into wild elephant death in Loei
Natural Resources Minister Suchart Chomklin orders urgent autopsy on a wild bull elephant found dead in Wang Saphung, Loei, amid electric wire findings.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Minister Suchart Chomklin ordered an immediate investigation into a wild elephant's death.
- A full-grown bull elephant was found dead in a rice paddy in Wang Saphung, Loei.
- Preliminary checks revealed electric wires surrounding the farming area near Phu Luang.
- The Department of National Parks warns farmers against using illegal electric traps.
On October 15, 2026, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, issued an urgent directive for authorities to investigate the death of a male wild elephant, known as a tuskless bull or "Chang Si-Dor," which was discovered dead inside a farmer's rice field located outside the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Wang Saphung District, Loei Province.
The ministerial order requires the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to deploy specialized officers and veterinary teams to conduct a thorough autopsy and gather forensic evidence. Minister Suchart stressed that if evidence proves anyone intentionally used electrical currents to kill the wild elephant, strict legal action will be taken without exception.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Mr. Yongyuth Nakviroj, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, received a detailed report from Mr. Wanchai Simmasian, Chief of the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary. The report stated that at around 1:30 PM on October 15, 2026, the second wildlife conflict response unit was notified by Mr. Sombat Tonkam, kamnan of Khao Luang subdistrict, about the dead adult elephant.
"Initial area inspections revealed electric wires set up around the perimeter of the rice field, which may be linked to the wild elephant's death."
Mr. Yongyuth Nakviroj, Director-General of the Department of National Parks
The Department Director-General added that local police investigators from Wang Saphung Police Station, community leaders, and veterinarians have been instructed to jointly inspect the carcass and collect physical evidence to track down the perpetrators.
Human-wildlife conflicts involving wild elephants in Thailand remain a critical issue as agricultural expansion overlaps with traditional forest habitats. Utilizing illegal electric fences to deter wildlife poses severe lethal risks not only to protected animals but also to humans, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable mitigation strategies such as early warning systems and physical barriers that ensure community safety.
The Department of National Parks has issued a stern warning to farmers and residents living near conserved forest boundaries that utilizing dangerous electric currents against wildlife constitutes a serious criminal offense. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to reducing human-elephant conflicts while following up on the autopsy results and ongoing legal proceedings.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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