Bangkok (The Nation/ANN) - The carcass of a five-month-old male elephant was found yesterday near a pond in Phetchaburi's Royally Initiated Kui Buri National Forest Reserve Rehabilitation Project area in central Thailand.
There was no wound, nor any trace of poachers at the scene. Authorities suspect the elephant died of natural causes because its navel, to which a partial umbilical cord was still attached, was swollen and appeared infected.
Following the discovery by Kui Buri Park officials, Protected Areas Regional Office 3 director Uthai Phromnaree, related officials and a veterinarian from Prachuap Khiri Khan Livestock Development Office inspected the scene, located near the Pa Yang Forest Protection Unit. The elephant's carcass lay two meters away from one of the 11 ponds dug for use by wildlife. The animal was believed to have been dead for four or five days. National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation officials said they would inspect the scene later yesterday, while the carcass would be autopsied before burial, Uthai said. He said he instructed park officials to dispatch more frequent patrols for the surveillance of elephant herds and to prevent poaching.
Kui Buri Park, known as a "Thai safari" destination among tourists, reportedly has 220-250 elephants and some 200 wild oxen, as well as some wild cattle and tigers, but their populations are on the decline.
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