RATCHABURI: A pregnant sambar deer died of serious injuries after falling from a cliff in the Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday, despite an attempt to save its life by wildlife officials.
Prateep Hermpayak, chief of the Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary in this lower Central province, said the sambar deer - listed as a protected species - accidentally fell from a cliff at the Pha Daeng Waterfall near Khao Krachom, a popular tourist spot known for its views of the sanctuary.
The deer was seriously injured in the fall. One of its front legs was stuck in a rock crevice, preventing it from moving.
The deer was spotted by tourists, who tried to free the animal's leg from the crevice but were not successful.
The tourists called for help from wildlife officials and border patrol police, who managed to extract the deer and brought it to the Khao Prathap Chang wildlife breeding station in Chom Bueng district for medical treatment.
Despite the best efforts of officials at the station, the animal died of its injuries.
Wildlife officials at the station said the carcasses of two other sambar deer had previously been found in the sanctuary. One had apparently died of gunshot wounds while the other died of unknown causes.
