Sai yok: Urgent rescue operations are currently being conducted to assist a two-week-old male wild elephant calf that has become separated from its herd in the Sai Yok forest. Officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have been deployed in response to the incident, which is believed to have occurred when the calf was swept away by flash floods down the Mae Nam Noi River. The initial health assessment reveals that the calf is severely dehydrated, exhausted, and has mouth sores, prompting immediate action from authorities. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has ordered a team of veterinarians to be mobilized to save the calf's life.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, reported that the Sai Yok National Park Ranger Unit, Unit 5 (Mae Nam Noi), was alerted by villagers in Mae Nam Noi Village, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, about the baby elephant found near the Mae Nam Noi stream. Due to the challenging terrain, the rangers had to take a 1-2 hour boat ride to reach the location. Upon arrival, they discovered the calf in an exhausted state with no herd nearby, indicating it had been stranded for around two days. The baby elephant's attempts to call for its mother received no response, suggesting the herd had moved far away. The rangers provided milk to sustain the calf overnight.
On July 31, 2026, a team of veterinarians from the Regional Wildlife Office 3 and its Phetchaburi branch reached the site to assess the calf's condition. Weighing approximately 40 kilograms and no more than two weeks old, the baby elephant was found to be weak with multiple abrasions, mouth ulcers, canker sores, severe dehydration, and necrotic tissue on its trunk and umbilical cord. The calf's drinking difficulties, conjunctivitis caused by bees, dark yellow-red urine, and foul-smelling diarrhea indicated a critical health condition. The veterinary team decided to relocate the calf to the Sai Yok National Park headquarters for close medical attention and treatment.
Later that day, veterinarians from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation arrived to further examine the calf. The Sai Yok National Park was instructed to establish a temporary enclosure, disinfect the surrounding area, and assign staff for continuous care. The veterinary team will conduct tests for elephant herpesvirus (EEHV) while the calf remains under quarantine for monitoring and observation.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, has issued urgent instructions for the veterinary team to closely monitor and provide care for the baby wild elephant to ensure its safety and recovery.