Firecrackers were thrown to drive away the wild elephant “Phlai Salika.” Friends of the Elephant Foundation has called for an investigation, while the national park clarified that the operation was conducted at a safe distance and plans to adjust work methods appropriately.
Today, 20 July 2026, following complaints about officials throwing large firecrackers at Phlai Salika, the beloved wild elephant of Khao Yai National Park, which sparked widespread criticism, the Friends of the Elephant Foundation has submitted a request to investigate the incident.
Recently, the Friends of the Elephant Foundation, the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA), the Animal Aid Association under Royal Patronage, and allied organizations have sent a letter requesting the Chair of the Committee for the Prevention of Cruelty and Promotion of Animal Welfare (the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives) to investigate the case. The letter states that
as images have appeared showing volunteers throwing firecrackers at Phlai Salika, the beloved wild elephant of Khao Yai National Park, causing widespread criticism on social media.
They request consideration to take action
1. To investigate the facts regarding volunteers throwing firecrackers at Phlai Salika, to clarify the matter for the public and to strictly enforce relevant laws and regulations.
2. To expedite the consideration and enactment of protections for additional species living in the wild, especially those living close to humans and vulnerable to human cruelty, including other wild animals and animals imported from abroad, to be included in the definition of wild animals under Section 3 of the Animal Cruelty Prevention and Welfare Act B.E. 2557 (2014).
This will benefit many animals by preventing cruelty and promoting better welfare.
Khao Yai National Park responded to online criticism following images and clips showing officials driving away Phlai Salika near Ban Sarika, Village 3, at the entrance to Sarika Waterfall, Sarika Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Nayok Province, on 12 July 2026.
The person in the footage using a spark-producing device is an official from the rapid response unit monitoring wild elephants. The apparently close distance between the staff and the elephant in the clip is actually a result of the camera angle, which made the distance look shorter than it really was. In reality, the operation distance remained safely within guidelines throughout the incident.
The park thanks the public for their observations and will use this as a lesson to improve communication and clarify operational guidelines more effectively.
The park will investigate the matter thoroughly and instruct the operational teams and related personnel to adjust their methods appropriately going forward.