30-Year-Old Male Wild Elephant Dies from Electrocution After Straying Outside Protected Area

A 30-year-old male wild elephant from Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary died from electrocution after straying outside the protected area. The elephant knocked down electrical poles with its body and pulled power lines into its mouth, causing a fatal short circuit.

On May 25, 2569, at 10:00 AM, Rachan Buatri, Director of the Conservation Area Management Office No. 3 (Ban Pong), ordered veterinarians from the office to conduct a necropsy on the tusked male elephant, estimated to be 25-30 years old, which died from electrical shock. The incident occurred in the forest edge area outside Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary in Ban Thammanao, Moo 2, Wang Dong Subdistrict, Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province. Officers removed both tusks, each approximately 1 meter long, and collected tissue samples for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause of death.

The elephant was found collapsed around 9:50 PM on May 24. The cause was that this elephant had been chased away from its herd by a stronger elephant from the inner forest area of Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, which has abundant water and food sources. Forced to forage outside the protected area, the elephant pushed down electrical poles with its body, then pulled the hanging power lines into its mouth, causing a fatal electrical short circuit. Additionally, officials found that the elephant had destroyed and knocked down 2-3 more electrical poles. After the necropsy was completed, the carcass was buried. Officials then reported to Lad Yao Police Station for record-keeping as evidence.