A female elephant which was pulled from a mud pool in a daring rescue last week has tragically died today. Mondulkiri provincial environment department
A female elephant which was pulled from a mud pool in a daring rescue last week has tragically died, the Mondulkiri provincial environment department announced.
A May 10 statement explained that the animal, which was discovered trapped in the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, had severe leg injuries and was extremely malnourished and dehydrated.
“The wild elephant was getting weaker day by day and passed away at 5.38am this morning. We are deeply saddened that the animal succumbed to its injuries,” it said.
Provincial environment department director Chao Bunthoeun told The Post that the elephant was extremely thin and the injuries to its front left leg meant that a medical team from the Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Centre in Takeo were unable to save it.
“Since becoming trapped, it could not reach any food, and had a serious injury. It lost weight and fell down. We provided it with food, but it was unable to eat,” added Bunthoeun.
A team at the wildlife sanctuary spotted the elephant stuck in mud near the Lim Royal Economic Land Concession in Chi Klorb village, in Koh Nhek district’s Sok San commune on April 30.
A joint team from the environment department, WWF Cambodia and the economic concession used heavy machinery to lift the animal out of the mud, which was when the extent of its injuries were revealed. It was believed that the elephant had been starved for at least three days before its discovery.
The team transferred it to the Royor Leu environment office at the the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary for surgery, where it tragically passed and will be buried.
The death of the elephant is the second recorded in the province this year. A young elephant was discovered shot dead in January, although the offender has yet to be brought to justice.
Bunthoeun said officials are still investigating the shooting of the young elephant and are developing a case.
“We are still on the lookout for the suspect who shot the elephant,” he added.
According to Bunthoeun, it is estimated that there are between 350 and 400 wild elephants in Mondulkiri province.
