BANGKOK, Thailand – An official probe into the death of a wild elephant known as “Sido Hu Phap” has cleared park rangers of negligence, concluding that the animal died from respiratory failure during a court-ordered relocation.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced on Monday that the sedation used during the capture followed professional standards. Investigators found that veterinarians administered 2,700 mg of Xylazine over a four-hour period to manage the elephant, an amount experts deemed appropriate for its size.
“The investigation found no evidence of intentional misconduct or negligence by the officers,” said Weera Khunchairak, Deputy Director-General of the DNP.
The necropsy revealed that the elephant, weighing approximately 2.8 tons, suffered respiratory failure after inhaling food particles during the operation. Officials noted that the capture took place in sugarcane and cassava fields, making it impossible to control the animal’s food intake prior to sedation, which increased the risk of choking.
The relocation was carried out under an emergency order from the Khon Kaen Administrative Court to protect local residents and crops. While the DNP had sought to appeal the timeline, the court mandated the removal of the elephant within 30 days due to safety concerns.
The DNP stated it would use findings from this case to improve safety protocols for future large-scale wildlife translocations. (TNA)
