A wild elephant rescued from a deep canal in Phitsanulok arrived at the National Elephant Institute in Lampang's Hang Chat district early yesterday morning for treatment.
Phlai Chomphu, a male elephant injured after plunging into a canal in Phitsanulok, is transported by truck to the National Elephant Institute in Lampang for emergency treatment. Vets said the jumbo's hind legs are seriously injured, reducing its chances of survival. Pattanapong Hirunard
The bull elephant was swept into into the canal and trapped by a flash flood in Noen Maprang district early on Tuesday. When it was discovered, it was almost fully submerged.
It was able to breathe only by raising its trunk above the water. National park officials' initial efforts to rescue the animal were unsuccessful. It was finally pulled to safety on Wednesday by residents, veterinarians and local officials.
Dubbed Phlai Chomphu, the animal was exhausted. Concerned parties agreed that it should be moved to the institute in Lampang for care and treatment.
The elephant arrived at the institute about 5am on a 10-wheeler truck. It stayed on the vehicle for a few hours before it was lowered to the ground out of concerns about its health and anxiety caused by the travel.
Thaweephok Angkhawanich, a veterinarian from the National Elephant Institute, said the elephant was seriously injured.
"It is a bad sign if the giant animal cannot use its legs as normal. It means that it might not be able to survive when its legs can't support its weight. But I don't mean that it can't be treated. It might be possible and we are now working on it," he said.
The elephant was thought to be from Thung Salaeng Luang National Park.
It was believed to have been swept into the three-metre deep canal at about 5am by runoff pouring down a mountain creek.
