A wild elephant was found dead from electrocution at Radar Hill within the Thungraya-Nasak Wildlife Sanctuary in Ranong province, according to local government officials. The incident, discovered on August 5, occurred when the elephant apparently pulled down a tree, which subsequently fell onto high-voltage power lines. Authorities are now working to protect the remaining five elephants in the area.
The scene was inspected by Chawakun Sithisak, deputy inspector of Muang Chumphon Police Station, and Thana Thongsamui, head of the wild elephant surveillance team at Namtok Ngao National Park. They were accompanied by officials from the Thung Raya-Nasak Wildlife Sanctuary and veterinarian Piya Serirak from the Office of Conservation Area Management 4. The inspection took place at 11:30 a.m. on August 5.
The investigation revealed that the deceased elephant was a female, estimated to be between 30 to 35 years old. Burn marks were found on its trunk and mouth, consistent with electrocution. The elephant’s body was discovered lying near the road at Radar Hill, with its head resting on a mound of dirt at the base of a tree.
The fallen tree, identified as a Talipot palm, was broken and found across the road, with its upper portion entangled in high-voltage power lines. Officials estimated that the elephant had been dead for approximately two days before being found. The veterinarian confirmed that the cause of death was electrocution.
Pornsak Piman, mayor of Wang Mai subdistrict, and Chaichumphon Phonphai, the village head of Moo 7, also joined the inspection. After the initial investigation, local government officials invited Phra Preecha Suchivo, the abbot of Wat Tha Mapring, to perform a religious ceremony before burying the elephant approximately 30 meters from the site, using a backhoe to dig the grave.
According to Thana Thongsamui, the herd of six elephants had migrated from Namtok Ngao National Park and had been foraging in Ban Na subdistrict for eight months. Recently, they moved to Wang Mai subdistrict and had been residing around Radar Hill for about four months. “The herd has been in this area for several months, and we have been monitoring them closely. Our priority is to ensure the safety of the remaining elephants and to prevent any future incidents,” Thana stated, reported KhaoSod.
The wild elephant surveillance team had been monitoring the herd closely. It was reported that two nights ago, a power outage occurred in the area, leading electricity officials to investigate. This led to the discovery of the dead elephant and the tree entangled in the high-voltage lines near the forest edge.
Moving forward, local authorities and relevant agencies are coordinating with electricity officials to implement preventive measures to avoid similar incidents, particularly as five elephants from the same herd remain in the area.
Efforts are now being concentrated on safeguarding the remaining elephants and raising awareness within the local community to prevent such tragedies in the future. The preservation of these elephants and the protection of the ecosystem are of utmost importance, reported KhaoSod.
