Pitiful end for a gentle giant: Elephant shot fifteen times dies in agony after succumbing to its wounds following month-long battle for survival
- The elephant, named Nga-Sun, was found collapsed by a muddy pool in Rayong
- Vets identified gunshot wounds across the animal’s buttocks, tail, and front leg
- The local police are still hunting the people who shot the elephant last month
This is the heartbreaking moment an elephant battled to stay alive a month after being shot 15 times in Thailand.
The elephant, named Nga-Sun, was found collapsed on a palm plantation by villagers in Rayong province last month.
Vets from the local wildlife team identified gunshot wounds across the animal’s buttocks, tail, and front leg. The wounds had punctured major internal organs such as its lungs, heart, spleen, and intestines.
The elephant, named Nga-Sun, was found collapsed on a palm plantation by villagers in Rayong province last month
The large animal was found collapsed near a muddy pool after sustaining serious injuries
Pictured, the elephant suffered gunshot wounds after being shot 15 times. The wounds had punctured major internal organs such as its lungs, heart, spleen, and intestines
The local community, vets and wildlife officials gathered for an ‘apology ceremony’
During the ceremony, they laid garlands of flowers and sprinkled holy water on the deceased elephant
Medics were able to treat the jumbo for almost a month before it was released into the wild again.
However, footage from November 6 shows how the elephant suffered complications from the injuries and was discovered in a muddy pond, where it had been collapsed for 48 hours.
One of the veterinarians said: ‘Spending 48 hours in the mud was too much for the injured elephant Nga-San. He stood in the muddy water for so long that his body temperature dropped.
‘When we managed to pump all the water up from the pond, we had to build a fire to keep him warm where he was.’
The wild elephant had to be lifted by a digger in order to bury it
The majestic animal was moved to its final resting place
:ocal police are still hunting the people who shot the elephant last month
Above, a bullet can be seen embedded in the elephant’s skin after he was shot 15 times
Above, an official holds a bullet which was embedded in the elephant
The elephant died and was later buried in the forest using an excavator while the local police are still hunting the people who shot him last month.
Before the burial, the local community, wildlife officials and vets staged an ‘apology ceremony’ and laid flower garlands and sprinkled holy water on the deceased elephant.
An estimated 2,000 elephants are living in the wild in Thailand and a similar number in captivity. In the wild, they roam through the deep jungle and in the country’s protected national parks.
However, there is conflict when they come in contact with humans who also use the area of farming and gathering food.
Elephants are a protected animal in Thailand and killing them carries a maximum prison term of up to three years and a fine of 1,000 baht (£25).