The Department of National Parks dispatched a veterinary team to care for and assess the condition of the wild elephant "Phlay Sarika" after it was found lying down and unable to rise in a local pineapple farm area in Nakhon Nayok Province, suspected to be due to illness.
On 26 May 2026, reporters reported that officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, together with the Sarika Subdistrict elephant monitoring and drive team, rushed to the area near Wat Pa Srithawornimit in Village 7, Hin Tang Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Nayok District, Nakhon Nayok Province, after receiving reports that Phlay Sarika had gone out to forage and then collapsed. Earlier reports indicated that Phlay Sarika had an injury on its left front foot, often lifting the injured foot while walking and frequently touching it with its trunk.
Upon investigation, it was learned that locals saw Phlay Sarika foraging in the evening of 25 May, coming from the forest edge into the community area and walking on the road. The elephant drive team attempted to guide Phlay Sarika back into the forest to forage, but it returned because of the left front foot injury. After walking for a while, the elephant would stop, lift the left foot periodically, and use its trunk to circle around the left foot while resting.
Phlay Sarika then went to feed on pineapples in a local farmer’s field. Around 20:00, it lay down to rest and got up to continue feeding. At approximately 22:38, the elephant cried out and then collapsed. It tried several times to get up but was unable to do so. Locals who witnessed this called the Department of National Parks’ hotline to request assistance for Phlay Sarika.
Shortly afterward, the Sarika elephant drive and monitoring team, along with park officials familiar with Phlay Sarika, arrived with fruit to provide energy. They spoke to Phlay Sarika, encouraging it to get up. After a short time, the elephant stood up from lying down and began eating the provided food.
Initially, the cause of Phlay Sarika’s fall and inability to rise was attributed to fatigue from illness. The Department received the report and promptly dispatched a veterinary team to provide care for Phlay Sarika.
