KANCHANABURI: A young wild baby elephant known as “Khaotom” is getting urgent care after falling into a pit and hurting its right back leg in the Huai Chani forest. The animal was found apart from its family group on Sunday after locals contacted the authorities.
Lam Khlong Ngu National Park staff responded fast, closing off the area and working with elephant conservation teams.
Park chief Akkanit Klangpraphan told the Bangkok Post the baby elephant looked weak and struggled to stand on its own. Vets from the Protected Area Regional Office 3 (Ban Pong) arrived late that night to check the injury. While waiting for medical help, about 8 to 10 volunteers, villagers, and park staff watched over the young baby elephant.
By Monday morning, the baby elephant’s health showed a little improvement, but it is still being watched by the vet team. Department of National Parks Director-General Atthapol Charoenchansa ordered staff to give the calf round-the-clock care until it gets stronger.
Vet Pattarapol Manee-on, who leads the Wildlife Health Management Division, shared that the baby elephant was named “Khaotom” as they gave it rice porridge water to help support its energy. The elephant herd is about 10 kilometres away from the spot where Khaotom was found, so bringing the calf back to its mother is unlikely.
Khaotom’s injury could be muscle, ligament, or bone-related. Vets need to take X-rays before starting treatment. Preparations are in place to move Khaotom from Lam Khlong Ngu National Park to Bueng Chawak Wildlife Sanctuary in Suphan Buri, likely on Tuesday.
To help Khaotom stay healthy, Pattra Elephant Farm in Chiang Mai sent elephant milk and colostrum, which are key for newborns to fight off illness. More supplies are being arranged with elephant centres in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
Wild Elephants in Thailand
Thailand has about 2,200 wild elephants. These animals deal with shrinking living spaces, run-ins with people, and tough living conditions in dense jungles and protected areas.
Young elephants under two years old often get left behind because of floods, falling into pits, injuries on the move, or mothers leaving calves that are too weak to catch up. Sadly, this often happens with Asian elephants, as mothers may leave a calf behind for the good of the herd.
Wildlife teams from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) respond quickly to reports from locals or rangers. They try for the least hands-on methods first, hoping to reunite calves with wild herds. If that’s not possible, they move to more focused care and rehab.
Elephant Rehab in Thailand
| Step | Description | Example from Recent Cases |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Detection and Initial Response | Locals or rangers spot the calf via patrols, villager reports, or thermal drone cameras. Teams arrive within hours, assessing if the mother/herd is nearby for reunion. | In the September 2025 Kanchanaburi case, villagers and the Ban Thiphuye monitoring team alerted park chief Akkanit Klangpraphan; the calf was moved to a roadside for safe transport to the Forest Protection Unit. |
| 2. Medical Assessment and Stabilization | Vets check for injuries, dehydration, or weakness. Initial feeds use rice water or emergency formulas (e.g., Enfagrow), transitioning to elephant milk powder (e.g., Enfalac) or donated mother’s milk from camps. Anti-inflammatories or splints treat legs; calves are kept warm and positioned to avoid bloating. | Khao Tom received 300 ml of rice water at 3 AM and 600-700 ml of milk by 6 AM on September 22; her leg injury was evaluated, with plans for supportive therapy. Milk transport from the Ayutthaya camp emphasized hygiene to prevent infection. |
| 3. Transport and Quarantine | If reunion isn’t viable, the calf is transported (often by truck) to a facility like Bueng Chawak Wildlife Management Development Center in Suphan Buri. Quarantine lasts days to weeks for health monitoring. | DNP Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa ordered urgent transfer for Khao Tom; she was moved at 7 PM on September 22 under vet Dr. [name redacted]. |
| 4. Rehabilitation and Hand-Rearing | Calves get 12-15 litres of milk daily, mimicking natural suckling. Socialization with surrogate “nanny” elephants occurs in chain-free enclosures with natural foraging. Behavioural experts monitor acceptance by herds. | At WFFT’s Elephant Refuge (Hua Hin), rescued calves roam 18-hectare enclosures with lakes and trees; hand-rearing uses 3 kg milk powder daily. In India’s similar efforts (adaptable to Thailand), calves are tracked post-release. |
| 5. Release or Long-Term Care | If strong, calves are soft-released near herds with GPS collars for monitoring. Otherwise, they join sanctuaries like Elephant Nature Park (Chiang Mai), home to over 100 rescued elephants in ethical, non-contact environments. | In the October 2024 case, the pair was guided back to the wild; officials monitor with drones. Weak calves like Khao Tom may need months of care before herd integration. |
DNP staff work closely with rangers, vets from regional offices, local volunteers, and at times groups like Elephant Nature Park or Wildlife Friends Foundation. Money for these rescues comes from government funding, donations from individuals (such as politician Khun Kanjana Silpa-archa, who covered Khaotom’s care), and eco-tourism at wildlife-friendly reserves.
Feeding newborn elephants is tricky, as milk at the wrong temperature can kill a calf. Elephants also suffer emotionally when separated, as they are deeply social creatures.
