Wild Elephant Calf Rescued After Being Found Trapped in Chanthaburi
Authorities in Chanthaburi are working to assist a one-year-old wild elephant calf found guarding its deceased mother with a snare trapped on its leg.
On November 1, 2026, a joint team from the Protected Area Regional Office 2 (Sriracha), Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, and local security forces responded to a report of a deceased wild elephant in a rubber plantation in Kaeng Hang Maew District, Chanthaburi. Upon arrival, officials discovered a one-year-old male calf remaining by its mother's side. The calf was found to have a poaching snare caught on its front left leg. According to Pitak Yingyong, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Division, the snare had not yet caused severe injury, and the calf appeared to be in good physical condition, showing signs of having begun to forage on wild bananas and grass. Emergency veterinary teams were deployed to remove the snare and conduct a thorough health assessment of the calf. Simultaneously, officials have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the mother elephant's death. For residents and visitors in the area, this incident highlights the ongoing risks posed by illegal poaching snares in rural zones near wildlife habitats. While the calf is currently being monitored, the exact circumstances surrounding the mother's death remain under investigation by wildlife authorities.
