Natural Resources Minister Orders Helicopter Rescue for Wildlife Officer Gored by Wild Gaur at Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary
A wildlife officer was airlifted to hospital after being gored by a wild gaur while tracking tigers in dense forest at Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary in Buriram Province on May 15, with the Natural Resources Minister ordering an urgent helicop
On May 15, 2025, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin ordered an urgent rescue operation for a wildlife officer at Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary in Buriram Province who was gored by a wild gaur while surveying an area to track tigers deep in the forest. A helicopter from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was mobilized for the air evacuation, as the incident site was in dense forest where vehicles could not reach and wild animals posed a threat.
According to Arthapol Charoenchangsa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the officer was attacked during fieldwork operations. Emergency personnel and rescue teams were immediately mobilized, and a temporary helicopter landing zone was set up to receive the injured officer.
Minister Suchart directed all agencies to ensure the safety of frontline staff and committed the ministry's full support for forest protection operations to enable wildlife and natural resource management to continue safely and effectively.
The rescue operation involved 40 personnel from Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary, the Conservation and Protection Division, Conservation Area Management Office 7, and the Khao Yai National Park rescue medical team working against the clock amid communication limitations and challenging forest terrain.
Rescue teams successfully reached the injured officer and transported him to a helicopter pickup point, then airlifted him to Nondindaeng Hospital in Buriram. The victim is a 27-year-old male with bleeding from the left ear, chest pain, and breathing difficulties—classified as a critical emergency requiring urgent medical treatment.
The evacuation used an Airbus Helicopter H130 EC130 from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, with a Sky Doctor team from Pak Chong District in Nakhon Ratchasima, before transfer to Nondindaeng Hospital for treatment.
