Chachoengsao: Wildlife rangers have been searching since Nov 10 for a wild elephant that has sustained multiple bullet wounds.
Weerapong Korawat, chief of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, said his search team has been deployed to help locate the elephant that is believed to have been shot more than ten times in Sanam Chai Khet district.
A local source said the injured elephant, aka Phlai Noo Sing, was sometimes seen wandering around palm and sugar cane plantations along with its herd of about 100 elephants to forage for food, causing damage to plantations.
On Monday, a veterinary team led by Sunita Wingwon, a veterinarian from the Protected Areas Regional Office 2 from Si Racha district of Chon Buri, was sent to the sanctuary where they used drones to help locate the wounded animal seen walking with other elephants in a forest area.
Ms Sunita said the drone images showed the elephant has sustained wounds to its back, side of its neck, ears, two front legs and its trunk.
"Its wounds may be aggravated in 2-3 days [if not dealt with properly]. So, we want to provide it with treatment as soon as possible," she said.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, a small herd of wild elephants rampaged through a coconut plantation in Khon Buri district on Sunday night, the fourth time the herd has raided the farm.
About 10 elephants emerged from the adjoining Thap Lan National Park and uprooted and knocked down about 300 coconut trees.
Chamroon Srichiangsa, chief of Area 5 of Thap Lan National Park, led park officials and community leaders to inspect the devastated farm at Ban Sa Luang in tambon Chorakhe Hin on Tuesday morning.
Mr Chamroon said the damage was being assessed so compensation could be paid to the farm owner.
Park rangers would be assigned to watch the herd and push it back into the park if the elephants tried to raid the farm again, he said.