Elephant Deaths in Chiang Mai Flood Spark Debate on Wildlife Safety Protocols

An elephant remains in the pens after the water level in the Elephant Nature Park dropped on October 6, 2024. (Photo: National Elephant Institute, under the Forest Industry Organization)

BANGKOK — As the floods recede in Chiang Mai, a tragedy involving two elephants from the Elephant Nature Park of the Save Elephant Foundation in Mae Taeng district has sparked a heated debate among elephant lovers, particularly over the evacuation of more than one hundred elephants and thousands of other animals.

Pang Fah Sai, aged 16, and Pang Ploy Tong, aged 40, were swept away by flash floods on October 3. Their bodies were found drowned 5 km from the Elephant Nature Park on October 5.

The death of these two elephants has led some people to criticize the delay in evacuation, despite other elephant camps having already evacuated all their elephants to safety. Even the Elephant Nature Park’s decision to bury the elephants’ remains near the riverbank has also been questioned by veterinarians, who warn that it may risk spreading pathogens into the river.

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The body of Pang Ploy Tong, aged 40, lies among floodwater debris in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)

According to a report from the National Elephant Institute, under the Forest Industry Organization (2015-2024), there are 49 elephant camps (with 546 elephants) along the Mae Taeng River. Before the disaster, there were 118 elephants in the Elephant Nature Park. After the water receded, 106 female elephants and 10 male elephants were found, while 2 female elephants deceased.

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One of the critics of the management of the Elephant Nature Park is Kanchana Silpa-archa, chairman of the advisory committee of the Chart Thai Pattana Party. Kanchana played a key role in the return of Plai Sak Surin, an elderly and ailing elephant from Sri Lanka to Thailand in 2023, and has continuously advocated for other elephants.

She explained that she did not want to harshly criticize the drowned elephants and the handling of sick and disabled elephants in this flooding incident in Chiang Mai. Otherwise, the veterinarians and various authorities would not have fully stepped in to help. Speaking as an animal lover, she urges improvements to reduce the loss of elephants and other animals.

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FILE – Kanchana Silpa-archa, advisor to the Thai environment ministry, stands by the Asian elephant Sak Surin gifted by the Thai Royal family at the national zoological garden in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Kanchana pointed out that other camps had been warned about the flash floods and had moved their elephants to safety since late September. They heeded the warnings and had their mahouts evacuate the elephants. However, the Elephant Nature Park continued to receive tourists until October 4 and only canceled activities when the situation had already become critical.

She also pointed out that video clips and pictures show elephants wading through the floodwaters alone, including a blind elephant, suggesting that the park did not have specialized mahouts for each elephant. Instead, general mahouts oversaw the entire area, making it impossible to respond in time. Caring for the elephants requires control, especially in emergencies, but it must abide by the law and avoid cruelty.

“I would like to say that other elephant camps that use chains did not let their elephants die. They had removed the chains before the floods came. That is not the problem. The problem is the elephant management system that has to ensure access in emergencies. This park has not trained its elephants in the same way as other camps,” Kanchana said.

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Saengduean Chailert, President of the Save Elephant Foundation, hugged to bid farewell to Pang Ploy Thong, aged 40, who died after being swept away by flash floods from the Elephant Nature Center in Kuet Chang Subdistrict, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province, on October 5, 2024.

Meanwhile, Saengduean Chailert, President of the Save Elephant Foundation and founder of the Elephant Nature Park in Mae Taeng, responded in a post. She said she did not want to be part of the drama about the way her elephant care center looks after elephants, which has been going on for almost two decades. Many people have already been sued and sentenced by the court. So if something happens this time, she will leave it to her lawyer.

“Constructive criticism based on good reasoning is acceptable, and I am willing to listen and make improvements. However, when there is criticism filled with bias and falsehoods, I feel compelled to come forward and inform society of the truth,” she said.

Saengduean affirmed that at the center, there are actually more mahouts than elephants, and mahout meetings are held every two weeks. Regarding tours, they were booked in advance, even across years, with a clear calendar available on the website.

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She added that the lessons learned from this loss are hard to forget and serve as a warning that future floods will be more severe. They will not allow this to happen to their “family” again.

For now, the task remains to search for the remaining elephants, dogs, cows, buffaloes and other animals and to care for the injured animals that have been relocated elsewhere. She thanked all the organizations and individuals who helped and provided the animals with food and medicine.

Currently, the center is buried under mud throughout the entire area. It will take months to clean and rebuild. Some of the elephant shelters have been destroyed by the floods, while many mahout families have lost their homes and are now seeking refuge elsewhere after their houses were washed away.

“We have to work tirelessly to get through this crisis. I am the head of this family and I am responsible for these people. I will only work for the voiceless animals,” she said.

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An elephant remains in the pens after the water level in the Elephant Nature Park dropped on October 6, 2024. (Photo: National Elephant Institute, under the Forest Industry Organization)

However, it seems that the story she said she didn’t want to become drama will not end. Because on the morning of October 9, Saengduean posted a message announcing to Ms. Kanjana to come and take the two male elephants, Khun Dech and Dok Kaeo, that were previously left at her Elephant Nature Park to live elsewhere, which she thought was ” appropriate.”

Later, Ms. Kanchana posted about the history of rescuing both elephants more than ten years ago and bringing them to the Elephant Nature Center with admiration for Saengduean and this center at that time. She didn’t just bring the elephants there, but had provided a great deal of support, more than she had ever given to anyone before.

She thanked Saengduean for taking care of both elephants all along. However, she is now in the process of taking both elephants out.

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