Update on the condition of the orphaned elephant at Khao Soi Dao: overall health remains stable, with normal digestion and alertness. The elephant continues to walk around foraging throughout the enclosure. The veterinary team is providing close care and has suspended public visits and food donations to prevent disease and preserve the wild instincts of the elephant.
Facebook pageWildlife Conservation Office, ThailandPosted a message stating: Update on the orphaned elephant at Khao Soi Dao on 13 Nov 2026 (data from 12 Nov to morning of 13 Nov 2026).
The wild elephant has stable overall health, normal digestion, alertness, and continues to forage throughout the enclosure. Due to ongoing cold and windy weather, the young elephant is eating less than before. The veterinary team has adjusted care and monitoring accordingly.
Animal information: Wild male elephant, approximately 1–2 years old, at Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Breeding Station, Chanthaburi Province.
1. Feeding and digestion
- Eats banana stems and leaves, ripe Nam Wa bananas, bamboo leaves (including yellow bamboo leaves), and Plicatulum grass, with a total intake of about 13.5 kilograms.
- Still has appetite, walks around browsing in the enclosure, and prefers succulent plants.
- Normal digestion; dung is formed in round pellets, well-formed, with good fiber digestion.
- Urinates five times, drinks water on its own, but assistance is still being sought to increase hydration.
2. Behavior and general health
- Mornings are cold with no sunlight and intermittent wind.
- The elephant scratches various parts of its body with wooden sticks and occasionally plays by kicking straw sacks.
- In the afternoon, it mainly browses for food.
- Sleeps about 1–2 hours around dusk and another 3–4 hours in the middle of the night.
3. Care and health recovery
- Given vitamin C, calcium, and probiotics as part of the care plan.
- Exploring ways to increase hydration, including adding more succulent plants.
- A fire is kept burning from evening until dawn for warmth, and the enclosure is cleaned regularly to prevent insects and poisonous animals.
Note: As the elephant recovers, some days it may eat less or sleep more or less than usual, which is normal. The veterinary team monitors overall trends and will provide daily updates.
Currently requesting cooperation on two points:
Information from the Facebook page of the Wildlife Conservation Office, Thailand.