The roundup ceremony at Trat for 27yearold elephant Plai Thang took two hours and 30 minutes yesterday, but went off successfully with the help of four other elephants.
Plai Thang was then taken to Chachoengsao's Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary to attend another ceremony, after which the animal will be released into the park today.
Atthasit Kanchanasinit, secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, presided over the ceremony along with Trat Deputy Governor Chalor Baicharoen and wellknown elephant veterinarian Alongkorn Mahannop.
In the ceremony carried out by four mahouts and one elephant doctor, elephant Phang Wannaree, 30, was the decoy, while the other three elephants - Plai Thongphaphum, 36, Plai Boonam, 32, and Plai Chumphol, 27 - helped herd Plai Thang in the correct direction.
The ritual was completed by 10.26am and the elephant was put aboard a 10wheel truck bound for the sanctuary. As the truck passed over the Nong Samet village bridge, local people held a ribboncutting ceremony to see the elephant off.