Search for elephant hit by truck in wildlife sanctuary

The injured wild elephant seen dragging itself across a road and into the forest some time after being hit by a pickup truck in Khao Ang Runai wildlife sanctuary in Chachoengsao province on Thursday afternoon. National park rangers are searching for the injured beast, so they can treat its injuries. (Photo from video clip on veterinarian Patarapol Lot Maneeorn's Facebook account)

CHACHOENGSAO: The search was continuing on Friday for a wild elephant that was severely injured when hit by a pickup truck on a side road in a wildlife sanctuary in the east of the province on Thursday afternoon.

The pickup hit the elephant on security road No.3259 in Khao Ang Runai wildlife sanctuary, Tha Takiab district, around 3pm on Thursday. The injured animal disappeared into the forest.

The pickup driver, Chamras Promcha, 45, was unhurt, but his passenger, Bancha Sae Tiang, 65, suffered chest pain and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Police said the two men were driving from a market in Tha Takiab to Sa Kaeo’s Khlong Hat district.

Three wild elephants had suddenly emerged from the forest to cross the road. The truck hit one of them before running off the road and hitting some trees, according to Pol Col Kasiphon Sirichan, superintendent of Tha Takiab police station.

Police and national park rangers tried unsuccessfully on Thursday evening to find the elephant to treat its injuries.

A video clip of the injured animal was posted later on Thursday afternoon by veterinarian Patarapol Maneeorn of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. It shows the injured elephant having difficulty while crossing a road. It was dragging its hind legs over the ground.

Mr Patarapol said the animal was clearly in pain, which would likely persist for several more days.

He said Decha Ninwichian, head of Khao Ang Runai wildlife sanctuary, had led the search for the injured elephant. They had found its tracks on a path about 2 kilometres inside the forest from the road where it was hit.

The elephant later entered a salt earth area, about 15 metres across, and from there they lost track of it as it was getting dark and they called off the search.

The search resumed on Friday morning.