Rescuers are racing to save a severely malnourished elephant found just “days from death” after being neglected at a Thai tourist camp closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 50-year-old male elephant, Khun Pan, had worked at the Chang Siam Park in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, giving rides to tourists before the pandemic halted the tourism industry.
When visitors stopped coming, the elephant was left without proper care, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Khun Pan became so thin that his bones were visible through his skin.
Locals were shocked to discover Khun Pan covered in sores from lying on hard, dusty ground. His tusks, once strong, had become fragile and cracked.
Over the weekend, concerned residents contacted veterinarians, and medics from a nearby Pattaya animal hospital rushed to the scene.
When they arrived on Saturday, Khun Pan was too weak to stand. The rescue team had to lift him using leather straps attached to a nearby tree to help him remain upright. They administered an IV drip with saline solution to rehydrate him.
Khun Pan’s owner, 55-year-old Lee Petchkla, said that the absence of tourists due to pandemic-related restrictions made it impossible to provide adequate food for the elephant.
Lee explained that he had been struggling to feed the 37 elephants at his camp, with Khun Pan being the most vulnerable because of his age. “I don’t have any income to feed them,” Lee said. “I don’t know what else to do.”
Before the pandemic, the elephants at Chang Siam Park participated in controversial shows where they performed tricks and gave rides to visitors.
Lee also organized monkey shows at the camp, which used to bring in revenue. With no tourists, Lee hopes to take his elephants back to his village if he cannot find proper care for them.
On Saturday, rescuers and residents brought bananas and sugarcane for Khun Pan, who showed slight improvement the following day as veterinarians continued treating his sores and injuries. Despite his fragile condition, Khun Pan remains at the park.
The story has sparked outrage among animal welfare groups. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called for Khun Pan and other neglected elephants to be rehomed in sanctuaries.
PETA issued a statement condemning elephant camps that exploit these animals for entertainment and urged facilities to send elephants to reputable sanctuaries like BLES before it’s too late.
“Elephants like this are enduring torment in Thailand’s entertainment industry,” PETA said. “The pandemic offers a chance for change, and we must stop supporting places that profit from their suffering.”
Many animal rights organizations have long campaigned against using elephants in tourism. They have urged tour operators to stop promoting attractions that exploit elephants and other animals.
PETA Vice President Jason Baker emphasized that elephants do not perform because they enjoy it but out of fear of punishment. “These elephants are scared of the abuse they will get if they don’t perform,” Baker stated.
Thailand is home to around 2,000 wild elephants, with a similar number living in captivity in sanctuaries and zoos and working in private events such as weddings and festivals.
Travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic have led to widespread suffering among elephants in the tourism industry, as many camps struggle to afford care.
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