Autopsy Reveals Causes of Wild Elephant's Death During Relocation

On February 4, 2024, Department of National Parks director Artthapon Charoen Chansa disclosed details about a wild elephant's death during relocation. The veterinary team conducted an autopsy on a male elephant aged 15-20 years, weighing approximately 2.3 tons, from Wieng Kao District in Khon Kaen Province. Initial findings revealed multiple abnormalities, including food debris in the mouth, frosty foam in the windpipe, pale digestive tract walls, and heart muscle complications. The preliminary diagnosis indicates respiratory failure caused by food aspiration, airway obstruction, and acute capture myopathy. Capture Myopathy is a severe condition affecting wild animals during capture and transportation, causing extreme stress that leads to muscle breakdown, toxic blood release, and potentially fatal complications like heart failure or acute kidney failure.