SAMUT PRAKAN: A young male elephant has died after falling down a drain and being electrocuted by a stray wire in Bang Phli district on Friday night.
Rescue workers recovered the pachyderm, aged between 6 and 10 years old, from the drain, about 60-80cm deep, in front of the Chaba Mookata restaurant in tambon Bang Phli Yai, said police who were alerted at around 9pm.
However, the animal had died after coming into contact with an electrical cord being used to supply lights to the restaurant.
Wildlife and livestock officials and Bang Phli police conducted further investigations at the scene on Saturday morning. The dead animal had been fitted with a microchip at the base of its left ear and was identified as Plai Panlan, from Chumphon Buri district or Surin.
The mahout who had taken the elephant to beg for food from customers at the restaurant in exchange for money was charged with moving the elephant without permission in violation of the Animal Epidemics Act, and and with violating the Land Traffic Act. His name was not released.