LAMPANG: A wild bull elephant rescued from a deep canal in Phitsanulok started therapy to strengthen injured hind leg muscles on Saturday after being trapped for more than 24 hours.
The elephant died peacefully on Saturday night, media outlets quoted the National Elephant Institute as saying.
It happended hours after veterinarians were trying to help the animal.
Weerapong Tangjitcharoen, a veterinarian from Chiang Mai University, said earlier the electricity muscle stimulation therapy would help the animal, named Phlai Chomphu, regain muscle strength in the legs.
He said that the therapy would likely continue for seven to 10 days, but the team is still doing daily assessments of the elephant's condition to determine how to best proceed.
"The treatment is the same one given to people suffering from paresis to stimulate the muscles," said Mr Weerapong. "We plan to continue this treatment but it depends on how the elephant's condition evolves."
Earlier, veterinarians expressed concern about the elephant's weakened condition. However, Phlai Chomphu has been responsive to the therapy so far -- even playfully scooping up some soil in its trunk and blowing it around.
The elephant has also been able to drink water while consuming medication to help alleviate inflammation, according to the team.
Phlai Chomphu was rescued on Wednesday after being trapped in a canal in Phitsanulok's Noen Maprang district for over a day. The elephant was likely swept there by flash flooding that took place early on Tuesday morning, having been seen in the water hours later.
The elephant was taken to the institute in Lampang's Hang Chat district early on Friday for treatment.
The jumbo is thought to come from Thung Salaeng Luang National Park.