Minister Orders Full Veterinary Care for Orphaned Baby Elephant
A baby elephant found abandoned and injured in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Kanchanaburi has been ordered to receive round-the-clock veterinary care by the Natural Resources and Environment Minister. The two-week-old calf, discovered i
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin expressed concern on August 1, 2025, over park officials' efforts to rescue a lost baby elephant discovered in poor condition with multiple injuries in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. He praised staff members who worked through difficult weather and strong currents, and ordered a full mobilization of park veterinarians to closely monitor and treat the animal around the clock for its safety.
"I have been informed about the lost baby elephant and am deeply concerned about its condition, given how young and critical its state is," said Suchat. "I want to thank all officials and veterinary teams who have sacrificed so much, braving rain and currents to help. I have also ordered the Department of National Parks to assemble expert veterinarians to provide comprehensive care at every stage, so the calf recovers safely and quickly."
According to Arthapol Charoenchansai, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, park rangers at Khao Sam Roi Yot Substation 5 received a report on July 30 at 6 a.m. from residents of Mae Nam Noi village in Kanchanaburi province. Rangers accessed the remote riverside area by boat, a journey of 1–2 hours.
They found one lost baby elephant in poor condition with no herd nearby, believed abandoned for approximately two days. The calf called for its mother throughout the night, but no response came from the herd, suggesting they had moved far away. The terrain was steep with only 1.5 meters of level ground; the elephant was just 30 centimeters from the riverbank and appeared to be eating roots and rocks nearby. Officials suspect the herd crossed the river and the current swept the calf downstream.
Heavy rain over two days raised water levels in the stream, creating additional danger. Staff provided milk under guidance from veterinarians at Substation 3 (Ban Pong) to prevent starvation.
On July 31 at 9 a.m., veterinary teams from Substation 3 and its Phetchaburi branch arrived to assess the elephant. The boat journey to the site takes 1–2 hours, and continuous rain increased flood risk.
Veterinarians determined the animal is a male calf weighing approximately 40 kilograms, no older than two weeks. It suffers from severe dehydration, blistered and cracked skin, multiple mouth ulcers, heat rash-like injuries, and umbilical and groin wounds with dead tissue and no maggots. A dime-sized heat ulcer in its mouth makes nursing painful. Bee-like insects around its eyes cause inflammation.
