UBON RATCHATHANI: A wild elephant has been found dead with gunshot wounds near a waterfall inside Buntharik-Yod Mon wildlife sanctuary. Photos from a camera trap showed an armed man in a military uniform of a neighbouring country in the vicinity.
The dead jumbo, aged 25-35 years and weighing 3.5-4.5 tonnes, was found at Huay Sai Yai waterfall on Wednesday evening by wildlife sanctuary officials.
The animal had gunshot wounds to its left hip. It was believed to have been shot 7-8 days ago and to have had a slow death, said Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksornn, director of the Protected Area Regional Office 9.
Veterinarians and wildlife officials examined the carcass on Thursday evening.
A single AK-47 bullet was found lodged in the animal's second rib.
Footage from a nearby camera showed an armed man wearing a military uniform of a neighbouring country walking inside the wildlife sanctuary, about one kilometre from the waterfall. The man was carrying an AK-47 rifle and a GPS device, and was believed to have been tracking poachers cutting trees in forest along the border.
There was a high possibility he was involved in the death of the elephant, officials said.
The elephant's carcass was buried, after lime was spread over it for disinfection.
The bullet and a report on the animal's death was handed over to police for investigation, to find those involved.
Buntharik district borders the Laos province of Champasak.
