Thailand’s most wanted elephant captured after months-long hunt

Park authorities and Sidor Daeng, the 15-year-old bull elephant, have played hide-and-seek since early January, when he wandered away from Khao Takrup, a forest area in Wang Nam Yen district of Sa Kaeo used as a detention centre for “problematic” wild animals. It is part of the Khao Ang Ru Nai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sidor Daeng roamed the eastern region, raiding fruit orchards and crop fields and killing one person who got in his way.

Park officials described him as smart but moody, and ready to attack anyone who disturbs him. That made Sidor Daeng both difficult to find, and dangerous, they added.

After leaving the detention forest the elephant has attacked a motorcyclist in a rubber plantation in Na Yai Am district of Chanthaburi in January, killing the mother who was driving and seriously injuring her son, who was riding pillion.

Farmers in Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat lived in fear after the return of Sidor Daeng. Many orchards in these provinces were damaged, and he was blamed.

“It’s back!! Plai Sidor Daeng comes down from Khao Soi Dao to raid Sa Kaeo,” screamed a headline on Matichon online on Jan 8. Plai means a male elephant in Thai.

Sidor Daeng was believed to have crossed the border to into Cambodia that month and later returned to Thailand. Most recently, he had been seen in the forest around Chanthaburi.

Park officials, local officials, soldiers and volunteers, about 100 in total, searched and searched for him and finally found the elephant at Ban Tabok Pia in Makham district at 8:30pm yesterday (June 14).

Five tranquilliser darts fired from guns were needed to sedate him, and a large backhoe from the Chanthaburi Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor) to lift the seven-tonne elephant onto a 10-wheel truck. He was then returned to Khao Takrub.


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Wild elephant found dead in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Tests are being done to determine what killed a wild elephant found dead on a Prachuap Khiri Khan pineapple plantation on Wednesday evening.



Officials suspect the animal, between five and 10 years old, succumbed to infection stemming from a fight with another bull elephant.

There was an infected wound on the left hip that appeared to be caused by a tusk.

Pol Capt Somchai Yoddamnonekul, deputy inspector in Sam Roi Yod district, and Kittipat Prempree, chief of Kui Buri National Park’s animal protection unit, led officials in examining the carcass.

Officials used a metal detector to ensure there were no bullets embedded in the body.

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Wellknown one-tusk elephant killed, believed electrocuted, in pineapple plantationv

A 30-year old bull elephant wellknown among villagers in Tambon Pluang Thong of Chon Buri’s Bo Thong district for its single ivory tusk and shortened tail was killed, believed electrocuted, at a pineapple plantation in Village Two of Tambon Pluang Thong on Sunday(Apr 15).

Officials of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation based in Si Racha district were alerted of the jumbo’death by villagers in Tam,bon Pluang Thong and a team was immediately sent to the scene to investigate.

Mr Yu Senatham, head of the Si Racha office, said officials had collected samples of vital organs of the dead elephant to be sent to the department’s laboratory for examination to determine the cause of its death.

But he said he suspected the elephant was electrocuted and a complaint would be lodged with Bo Thong police to look for the perpetrator.

A one-minute clip posted in the social media by officials of Ang Runai wildlife sanctuary after Sunday’s tragedy shows the animal of being friendly and good- tempered and a familiar figure in Chon Buri and Rayong.

Meanwhile, an informed police source said that the elephant’s trunk was badly burned, suggesting that it was electrocuted. He said that the elephant was found dead about 100 metres from the burial site of another jumbo which was electrocuted on March 25.

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One-tusk elephant strays into village and plays in water in Bung Kan

Villagers at a village in Bung Konglong district of Bung Kan province panicked after a wild one-tusk elephant strayed into their village and played in water in the Nong Bua Daeng swamp.

They immediately alerted local authorities and they’re instructed to keep off the elephant for safety precaution.

According to the villagers, the elephant played in water in the swamp about 100 metres from the shore.

Park officials from the Phu Wua wildlife sanctuary arrived in the village and said it is a bull elephant.

It might stray from its herd in the wildlife sanctuary.

After watching the elephant playing in water for almost an hour, it walked slowly back to shore passing the rice field and disappearing in the woods towards the wildlife sanctuary.

Park officials said the sanctuary is home to about 50 wild elephants. The sanctuary has 110,000 rai covering Bung Kan, Bung Kla, Seka, and Bung Konglong districts of Bung Kan.

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One-tusk elephant strays into village and plays in water in Bung Kan

Villagers at a village in Bung Konglong district of Bung Kan province panicked after a wild one-tusk elephant strayed into their village and played in water in the Nong Bua Daeng swamp.

They immediately alerted local authorities and they’re instructed to keep off the elephant for safety precaution.

According to the villagers, the elephant played in water in the swamp about 100 metres from the shore.

Park officials from the Phu Wua wildlife sanctuary arrived in the village and said it is a bull elephant.

It might stray from its herd in the wildlife sanctuary.

After watching the elephant playing in water for almost an hour, it walked slowly back to shore passing the rice field and disappearing in the woods towards the wildlife sanctuary.

Park officials said the sanctuary is home to about 50 wild elephants. The sanctuary has 110,000 rai covering Bung Kan, Bung Kla, Seka, and Bung Konglong districts of Bung Kan.

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Tourists hurt as bull elephant tries to mate with female

AYUTTHAYA - Three Japanese tourists and a mahout were hurt when a young bull elephant giving rides at a tourist attraction in Muang district tried suddenly to mate with a female on Tuesday.

The two terrified women passengers, and the mahout, fell from the animal's back to ground. A third tourist, who was taking photos nearby, was also injured.

The two Japanse were riding on a 20-year-old male elephant, known as Doraemon, with mahout Chainarong Phorkaew at the Ayothaya Elephant Village when the incident occurred around 11am.

Doraemon’s behaviour changed when it saw a young cow elephant, known as Wassana, walking nearby. He lunged quickly toward her and tried to mount her. She rejected his advances.

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