Minister Praises Rapid Rescue of Trapped Wild Elephant Calf
Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Minister praised a rapid response team for rescuing a baby wild elephant stuck in mud at a Chanthaburi reservoir on November 6. The calf was freed unharmed and successfully reunited with its mother and herd waiting at the forest edge.
On November 6, 2026, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surachai Chomkhlan disclosed that he had received a report from National Parks Department Director-General Yongyut Nakviroj regarding the successful rescue of a wild elephant calf trapped in water at the northern part of the Khlong Phawa Yai reservoir in Pawa Subdistrict, Kaeng Hang Maeo District, Chanthaburi Province. The 9th Rapid Response Unit of Conservation Area Management Office 2 (Sriracha) responded immediately after being alerted at 7:00 AM, coordinating with Kaeng Hang Maeo district officials to carefully free the calf from the mud and lead it back toward the forest. Preliminary checks found no serious injuries and the calf was in good health. Most heartening was that after rescue, the calf walked back to its mother and herd, which had been calling and waiting at the forest edge, safely returning to its natural family — a touching scene reflecting the dedication of wildlife protection staff. Minister Surachai praised and thanked all officers for their speed, sacrifice, and professionalism, and instructed the National Parks Department to closely monitor the herd's behavior to ensure the calf receives proper maternal care. He emphasized that wildlife conservation must go beyond solving immediate problems to caring for every life and making every effort to ensure wild animals can live safely in the forest.
