KANCHANABURI, Thailand – Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has directed specialist veterinary teams to provide intensive care for a critically ill wild elephant calf rescued from a remote area of Sai Yok National Park in Kanchanaburi. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Director-General Athapol Charoenshunsa stated that villagers found the calf beside Huai Mae Nam Noi on July 30, 2026. Rangers traveled by boat for up to two hours to reach the site, where they found the exhausted calf alone.
Officials believe the calf had been separated for about two days, possibly while the herd crossed the swollen waterway. Rangers stayed overnight in case the herd returned and provided milk under veterinary guidance. A veterinary team reached the calf on July 31 despite continuous rain, strong currents, and flash flood risks. The male calf weighed about 40 kilograms and was estimated to be less than two weeks old. It showed severe dehydration, multiple injuries, feeding difficulties, and signs of infection. Veterinarians assessed its condition as critical.
The calf was transferred to Sai Yok National Park headquarters for intensive treatment and monitoring. A temporary enclosure has been disinfected, and park personnel are providing continuous care under veterinary supervision. Veterinarians tested the calf for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), and it will remain in quarantine until results are available. The Minister thanked the rangers and veterinary teams for their efforts under challenging conditions and instructed the department to mobilize all necessary expertise to support the calf’s recovery. (NNT)
