Sai yok: The orphaned wild elephant calf rescued in Sai Yok National Park has died on Tuesday from suspected acute kidney failure, despite emergency resuscitation efforts by park authorities. Officials performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after the calf collapsed in critical condition, but were unable to revive her. A full necropsy is scheduled to definitively establish the cause of death.
According to Thai News Agency, medical personnel and officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation executed emergency CPR on "Jiew Sai Yok," a rescued female calf, when her condition deteriorated rapidly at approximately 2:00 a.m. Despite prolonged attempts to stabilize her, the calf passed away, leaving the rescue team deeply saddened.
"Jiew Sai Yok" was first sighted on July 30, after local residents reported an unattended calf near the bank of Huai Mae Nam Noi in Kanchanaburi's Sai Yok National Park. The calf appeared severely exhausted with no sign of her mother or herd in the vicinity. Park officials initially monitored the site in hopes of a natural reunion, but no adult elephants returned.
On July 31, park rangers commandeered local boats to navigate deep into the remote terrain, spending over two hours to reach and evacuate the calf to park headquarters. The intervention was initiated after responders determined the calf was suffering from severe dehydration and multiple external injuries to her mouth, trunk, and navel.
In the days following her rescue, veterinary teams from the Protected Area Regional Office 3 (Ban Pong) and its Phetchaburi branch maintained a 24-hour intensive care protocol. The team administered milk feeds of approximately 350 to 500 milliliters every two to three hours. Throughout the treatment phase, "Jiew Sai Yok" exhibited signs of resilience, attempting to stand and walk despite recurring periods of physical exhaustion.
Veterinarians continuously administered intravenous fluids via ear veins and supplied supplemental oxygen. However, the calf suffered from persistent diarrhea and passed dark-colored urine only sporadically. Sukhee Boonsrang, director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, stated that preliminary veterinary assessments point to acute kidney failure as the primary cause of death. The evaluation was prompted by blood panels revealing elevated muscle breakdown markers, combined with potential congenital internal organ defects. Veterinarians are slated to perform a comprehensive necropsy and submit tissue samples for laboratory analysis to conclusively establish the exact cause of death.