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Published on January 21, 2008

The elephant severely injured his right front leg when he stepped into a hunter's trap in July 2006. He was chased away from his herd and left the jungle to stay in a buffer zone where he could feed on crops grown by villagers.

A team of veterinarians was assigned to take care of the jumbo. Unfortunately, after getting better, the elephant did not want to return to his jungle home. Last September, forestry officials moved him to deep jungle only for him to return to the buffer zone in the next three days with a more severe wound on his leg.

Sawai Wanghongsa, head of Chachoengsao's Wildlife Research Centre, said Sampran's wound needed to be cured as the leg was now deforming.

"To cure his leg, it would be better to move the elephant out of the area," he said.

Yoo Senatham, head of the wildlife sanctuary, recently asked the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department for approval to take Sampran out of the jungle. The designated area for Sampran to stay during medical treatment is forestland 20 kilometres away from the sanctuary.

Sawai said moving wild elephants out of the jungle where they were born was not easy as it was very difficult for them to adjust to a new environment.

Sampran would be the first wild elephant in Thailand to be moved from its homeland.

The Nation