Theerarak Suthathiwong
Thailand’s most-famous living elephant nearly went to
the big pachyderm park in the sky after a veterinarian’s injection
prompted a stagger and fall into a muddy pool at the Pattaya Floating
Market.
Somrak, whose handler claims is a record-shattering
115 years old, was rescued by staff and residents near the market’s
elephant camp Sept. 21. People threw water on the beast to keep him cool
while others propped tires under his head to keep the fallen elephant
above water.
Market workers deployed a construction crane being
used nearby to help Somrak get to his feet. After righting himself, the
giant animal took a few steady steps and, supported with Barbados pride
trees, limped to dryer ground where he seemed to recover, although he
remained weak.
Confirmed records show the oldest-ever elephant died
at age 82 while anecdotal reports claimed elephants in Taiwan and Sri
Lanka lived to 86 and 90, respectively. However, Somrak’s mahout,
Thongun Supmaak, purports that Thailand’s oldest elephant is a whopping
115, although his assertion has not been verified.
What is known is the accident occurred after a vet
gave Somrak a “stimulant” that was deemed routine. Shortly after,
however, the elephant that has been featured in numerous movies and
television shows and sired even more famed pachyderms fell into the bog
where only the fast work of 10 rescuers saved him.
