The team moving ‘Plai Dok Kaew’ out of the Elephant Conservation and Environment Foundation has delayed the elephant’s removal because it needs to be thoroughly assessed after yesterday (October 10) they tried using an adult elephant to familiarize it.
Plai Khundej, a 14-year-old disabled elephant, and Plai Dok Kaew, a 9-year-old orphaned elephant, which Ms. Kanchana Silpa-archa bought and left with the Elephant and Environment Conservation Foundation in Mae Taeng District to care for for many years, must remain in the same place for now. The operation to move the elephants had to be delayed because the elephants’ health had to be assessed in detail. Both had just encountered flooding. Veterinarians were afraid that they would have moist lungs, and if they were given medication to control their movement, it could be dangerous.
After yesterday (10 Oct) the elephant transport team, both the Thai Elephant Federation Association and Mae Taeng Camp, tried bringing a male elephant across the border, which was an
adult elephant, to be a resident elephant to familiarize him with Dok Kaew. Dok Kaew was interested but was still nervous, so they had to retreat and return to using the method of having the mahouts from the new and old houses help familiarize him and assess his health. It is expected that this will take some time.
Veterinarian Adul Saengthong, head veterinarian of the Elephant Conservation and Environment Foundation, said that it was not possible to tell whether Plai Dok Kaew was happy, angry or territorial because there were a lot of people and strange elephants. However, the most important thing is that his health must be assessed thoroughly before moving.
As for Phlai Khundet, a wild elephant, he still has to wait for a permit to move from the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The move of the two elephants occurred after the elephant drama between Ms. Kanchana and Lek Saengduan, who fought back and forth after the flooding at the foundation’s elephant
care center, leading to a post that if people are uncomfortable with the elephants being here, they should come and take the elephants they are keeping.
Source: Thai News Agency