Five elephants seized by authorities last year for inspection and a new baby jumbo have returned to a private shelter in Kanchanaburi after being found to be legally obtained.
Mahouts help bring an elephant from a truck after arriving at a private shelter in Kanchaburi. The jumbo was among five animals seized by authorities for inspection last year. (Photo by Piyarach Chongcharoen)
The five pachyderms had been confiscated from the Thaweechai elephant kraal in Kanchanaburi’s Muang district by officials from the National Parks, Wildlife and Park Conservation Department in February last year on suspicion that the shelter operator might have obtained them illegally.
The elephants had been transported to the state-run Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (TECC) in Lampang province’s Hang Chat district.
After verifying identification cards and characteristics of the animals, authorities decided to return them to their shelter.
Thawee Longsakul, 74, operator of the Thaweechai elephant kraal, on Saturday expressed his delight to have his elephants back.
The seized jumbos, comprising four adults and a three-year-old elephant, and the new 1-year-old pachyderm, were transported by four trucks from Lampang at 10am on Friday and arrived at the private shelter at 3.30am on Saturday.
Mr Thawee said it was good news that his shelter had the new elephant baby born at the state elephant camp. The one-year-old jumbo Pang Malinee was given birth by Pang Wassana, 26, one of the five seized elephants.
However, it was a pity that Pang Kanchana, a 32-year-old female jumbo, lost her baby during the confiscation, he added.
He thanked veterinary surgeons and mahouts at the TECC’s elephant hospital for taking good care of his elephants. He decided to cover the transportation cost for the elephants as the department had to await a budget.
He said he had no plan to sue the department to demand compensation for the damage caused by the seizure of his animals.
Veterinary surgeon Khachaornpat Bunprasert, head of the TECC’s elephant hospital, said the six jumbos had undergone thorough health check-ups which showed that they were physically and mentally fit. However, the new baby jumbo may have to slightly adjust itself to the new environment