Five more elephants have been found dead in the creek of Haew Narok waterfall in Khao Yai national park, bringing the number elephant deaths to 11. They apparently died after falling from the steep waterfall.
Mr. Sompote Maneerat, spokesman for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, told Thai PBS online news service today (Tuesday) that the five dead elephants were spotted by drones deployed by park officials to track the animals.
He said that the dead jumbos were found scattered in the creek, about one kilometre from the site where six elephants were also recently found dead in the creek.
He said he thinks that all the dead pachyderms were from the same herd.
Meanwhile, it is reported that a group of park officials will travel by boat from Khun Dan Prakan Chon reservoir upstream into Klong Ton Sai to lay nets to trap the dead elephants, which are expected to be washed downstream by strong currents.
An official said that the nets must be strong enough to withstand weight of up to 40 tonnes, the average weight of an adult elephant.
He added that officials were looking for potential sites along the creek which could be used to bury the elephant carcasses.
The Haew Narok waterfall has been closed to visitors indefinitely as officials are trying to repair damaged barricades to prevent elephants from venturing too close to the steep and slippery cliff.
