A wild elephant being treated for multiple gunshot wounds by veterinarians at Kui Buri National Park died on Sunday.
The elephant was suffering from more than 40 wounds caused by various kinds of firearms, and had killed one park official while being treated.
Suporn Pholphan, chief of the Kui Buri National Park, said it was a bull elephant, 20-25 years of age and weighed about 3 tonnes.
The injured animal was found at Tha Wang Hin village in tambon Khao Chao in Pran Buri district on Dec 10.
The elephant had become vicious, and was sedated and taken to the national park headquarters in Kui Buri district for treatment. Despite the vets’ best efforts, the animal died on Sunday.
After its death, border patrol police from Phra Mongkut Klao camp in Prachuap Khiri Khan examined the dead elephant with a metal detector.
More than 40 slugs fired from various kinds of firearms were found lodged all over its body – including under the right eye, in its trunk and the bones of the left foreleg.
Park officials believed the elephant had turned vicious after being shot many times in many encounters with armed men.
On Dec 11, a park official was severely hurt and later died after being attacked by the elephant while trying to treat its injuries.
Bangkok post
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Officials examine the dead elephant before burying it, at Kui Buri National Park headquarters in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Sunday. (Photo: Chaiwat Satyaem)
