Khao Yai: Fatal fall for 6 wild elephants

Rescue operation saves two other elephants in danger after attempting to save a calf at Haew Narok

Six wild elephants died after falling into the Haew Narok waterfall in Khao Yai National Park early Saturday morning. A team of park rangers who were herding elephants back into the forest from Route 3077 in Prachin Buri heard loud elephant calls coming from Samor Poon creek, near the waterfall, around 3 a.m. Saturday. By 6 a.m., they went to check and found a calf, about 3 years old, that had drowned in the first tier of the waterfall. Two elephants were spotted trying to help it. They looked exhausted. Officials descended into the area below the waterfall and found five other drowned elephants, said Khanchit Srinoppawan, the national park chief. The waterfall was closed to the public following the incident. Mr. Khanchit said more park officials and rescuers were deployed, and ropes were used to help the two other struggling elephants at the waterfall. They were rescued at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, announced the Khao Yai Gaur nature protection group on its Facebook page. (...)

Haew Narok is the largest and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Khao Yai National Park. Before the construction of the Prachin Buri-Khao Yai road, visitors had to walk at least six hours to reach the site.

www.bangkokpost.com/...t-khao-yai-waterfall

Drone spots 5 more dead elephants at Khao Yai waterfall

Five more dead elephants were spotted in Khao Yai National Park as authorities struggle to recover the carcasses of six others that perished in the same location.



Nakhon Nayok Governor Natthapong Sirichana announced Tuesday the discovery of five more dead elephants at Haew Narok waterfall, near where six others were found last Saturday. A drone flying over the area spotted their bodies in the waterfall, he said.

This grim discovery brings the death toll to 11, one of the most significant losses recently recorded for Thailand’s wild elephant population. Officials believe all belonged to the same herd, but the reason they plunged into the strong current remains unknown. Khao Yai spans the provinces of Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, and Prachin Buri. The elephants died in Pak Phli district, Nakhon Nayok.

Drones are being used to search for two surviving animals that have apparently returned to the forest.

Park officials and rescuers hope to trap the carcasses of the dead elephants in a large net capable of handling 40 tons, deployed downstream from the waterfall near the Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok. The net is meant to prevent the carcasses from polluting the reservoir. The dead elephants will be examined for clues about their deaths before being buried.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1767489/drone-spots-5-more-dead-elephants-at-khao-yai-waterfall

This is ridiculous. You're on a travel forum, not an animal forum.

Why? Aren’t there any animals in Thailand?

There’s no shortage of dumb comments here, but this time you’re in the running for the GOLDEN TURKEY award 😡

I knew that on average one elephant dies each year in these waterfalls during the rainy season. Given that the wild population is shrinking dramatically, this news is really sad. Let’s hope—and it’s likely—that there was no human cause behind this incident. Some measures should be taken now, but I wonder what they could be since elephants are really attached to the routes they usually take.

hi

Since the wild population is shrinking dramatically, this news is really sad.

Actually, according to the latest info, the population is increasing again. This has led to a local tourist being trampled to death while walking in Khao Yai National Park. So if you're walking in this park and you see a herd of elephants, it's best to move away as quickly as possible