Nakhon Ratchasima, National Park Department and the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization) announced the results of the analysis of ivory from a fight until the ivory broke. Including analysis of salt licks, a source of food for wild elephants. Broken tusks were found to contain elements showing low levels of certain minerals. Consistent with the salt lick analysis results Some essential minerals dissolve well in water, being washed away by the water, diluted and causing people to have a bad smell. Wild elephants are coming to use it less.
Mr. Atthaphon Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Acting Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saroj Rujirawat, Director of the Synchrotron Light Research Institute, attended the press conference "Unraveling the mystery of elephants colliding with broken ivory" at Khao Yai National Park. Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Mr. Atthaphon said Due to the fact that on November 10, 2022, there was an incident of a battle of wild elephants with gold ivory and gold ivory at Khao Yai National Park and it was found that the right tusk of the gold ivory was broken into two pieces. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has taken samples of gold-plated ivory to be analyzed at the Synchrotron Light Research Institute. To be careful of health effects and the behavior of elephants and other wild animals The ivory is examined using the synchrotron light technique, which can analyze the structure and properties of the ivory at the atomic level. and checking with other techniques related As well as bringing salt lick samples from Khao Yai National Park. Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Loei Province and Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum Province were also included in the analysis. The results may be linked to the health of elephants and wildlife.
Examples of nutrients that are essential to elephants and wild animals include calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and other minerals that elephants and wild animals need. Forest should be given in the right amount, variety, and enough because it is important for the body's functioning. This includes various factors and conditions such as type, gender, season, reproductive age. reproductive system and illness It affects the needs of each type of mineral differently.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saroj discussed the results of the analysis of gold-patterned ivory samples. Using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique, it was found that the mass ratio of calcium was not more than 1.76 parts to 1 part of phosphorus, which was less than the reference value in the Asian elephant samples. with a ratio of 2.16 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus, in-depth examination was carried out using synchrotron light, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption (XAS) techniques, which made it possible to identify the compounds. Of the calcium in ivory, there are 2 main components: hydroxyapatide compounds that are low in calcium. and dicalcium phosphate compound Normally, hydroxyapatide is an important compound that affects the strength of bones and teeth.
As for the results of the analysis of minerals in salt licks from each source With the X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique from synchrotron light and laboratory equipment. A wide variety of minerals are found that are essential for elephants and other wild animals, both primary and secondary minerals, including potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, manganese and zinc.
There is an important observation: It was found that the amount of calcium was low compared to data from related research reports. It is expected that some essential minerals dissolve well in water. Therefore, it has been washed away and diluted by the water, and wild elephants still do not eat the salt licks because of the smell of tourists trampling on the salt licks.
Veterinarian Phattharaphon Manee-on, Head of the Wildlife Health Management Group The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said that if wild elephants don't have tusks, what will happen? First, they won't be handsome, they won't be cool, and they will affect the feelings of those who see them. Then they lose their balance from turning their tusks on one side, walking with their necks tilted, feeling irritated. Some people try to lift their tusks to only one side for balance. Difficulty eating plants, tearing, peeling bark from trees, vines, or digging up bulges. It affects other small animals such as barking deer, deer, and bison that will come to eat it. and also risk infection When germs enter, causing inflammation and pain, they beat their trunks and tusks.
Having only one tusk also puts others at a disadvantage. When he can't fight himself with tusks, he avoids confrontation. out of area Conflict has arisen between people and wild elephants such as Boonchuay and Boonmee. They used to have tusks before. Which part do you still have left? I yearn for minerals. according to the smell of salt Demolishing villagers' kitchens If in the park Went into the tent camping area from the salty smell. If it's a little heavy, take out the garbage and eat it. You'll get infected with the disease and the garbage will block your intestines. Many more problems follow. When there are no tusks, they adjust their fighting tactics to fight at close range. Bumping your head or hitting your chest or stomach. This causes blood to bleed into the chest and death from suffocation. and elephants that fought to the death It was caused by a forceful blow to the chest cavity rather than a stab with the tusks. Sometimes, when they avoid being stabbed by their tusks, they will fight from behind and bite off their tails. It can cause the bite and tail to become infected and die. There is a chance that this will continue to happen in a loop. And another reason why elephants don't get enough minerals is that elephants don't eat pong because of the smell of tourists trampling on pong.
Mr. Atthaphon added that The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation places importance on caring for elephants. It's no different than caring for people affected by elephants. As for making pongs, if any pongs affect elephants, they must be improved. After this, the Department and the Institute will continue to cooperate on issues that need to be further developed.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saroj said that The Synchrotron Light Research Institute summarized the results of this study: Results from using synchrotron light to analyze the structural composition of ivory found that broken ivory had components that showed a trend of insufficient calcium intake. Consistent with the results of measuring minerals from salt licks.
Such information may lead to widespread dissemination of guidelines for creating new salt licks and enhancing existing salt licks in protected forest areas. and can be used to effectively and sustainably monitor and manage the health of wild elephants and wildlife. and in the future of the institute There will be cooperation in supporting scientific information to the Department. Next.
Source: Thai News Agency
