A 10-year-old male wild elephant was found dead in Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province on 18 May 2025, with wildlife officials determining the likely cause of death to be injuries sustained during a clash with another elephant. An autopsy revealed no bullet wounds, ruling out poaching as a cause
The carcass was located at coordinates UTM 47P 0570274E 1341479N in Village No. 7, Ban Ruam Thai, within Hat Kham Subdistrict of Kui Buri District. According to park authorities, the elephant weighed approximately 1.5 tons and had tusks on both sides. The body was already in a state of decomposition, and officials estimated the animal had died between five and seven days prior to discovery.
A preliminary examination using a metal detector found no traces of bullets or metal fragments. Although the internal organs were too decomposed for sampling, a 10×10 cm wound was discovered on the elephant’s right hip. The injury, positioned around 150 cm above the ground, had penetrated the hip bone, breaking it in two. The torn appearance of the wound and its size were consistent with injuries caused by another adult male elephant’s tusk, suggesting aggressive behavior between bulls as the probable cause of death.
Officials from Kui Buri National Park, accompanied by veterinarians from the Conservation Area Management Office 3 (Phetchaburi branch), local police, soldiers, and representatives from wildlife organizations including WWF-Thailand, conducted the field inspection. After the autopsy, the elephant’s tusks were removed and secured at the national park. The remains were buried on-site to prevent disease transmission among wildlife. Local monks were invited to perform a merit-making ceremony before the burial. A formal report was filed with Ban Yang Chum Police Station.
