Officials from Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary discovered the carcass of a wild elephant calf submerged in a pond in Tha Takiap District, Chachoengsao Province. Its left front ankle was tightly bound by a snare, which is believed to have caused an infected wound leading to its death.
A reporter reported that on 18 February 2026, officers from the Lum Chang Province Protection Unit of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary found a wild elephant calf lying in a pond located in the Klong Yang forest area, Village No. 7, Klong Takrao Subdistrict, Tha Takiap District, Chachoengsao Province, within the wildlife sanctuary. Upon inspection, they discovered the wild elephant calf had died. It was a male calf at least one year old, with a snare tightly wrapped around its left front ankle.
Mr. Ekachai Saendee, head of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, after receiving the report from the Lum Chang Protection Unit, coordinated with police officers from Tha Takiap Police Station at the scene to collect evidence. He also arranged for veterinarians from Wildlife Rescue Center 2 (Krapuk Koo) to investigate. They found a deep wound on the left front leg caused by the calf getting caught in a wildlife snare, which became infected and caused its death. The calf’s eyes appeared pitiful before tissue samples were collected for further examination.
Mr. Ekachai Saendee, the sanctuary chief, obtained approval from the Tha Takiap police investigator to destroy the calf’s carcass by scientifically burying it at the scene. He appealed to hunters to stop harming wildlife, as it is illegal, and warned that offenders face severe penalties including imprisonment and fines.