PUBLISHED : 15 Aug 2023 at 04:00
The orphaned elephant calf Tula has died due to illness after 10 months under the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation’s (DNP) care, the department announced on its Facebook page on Sunday evening.
Tula first came to the public’s attention when a team of veterinarians found him in Chanthaburi’s Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in October last year.
He was abandoned by his herd after contracting herpes in the wild, said Patarapol Maneeorn, chief of the department’s Wildlife Health Management Division.
According to Dr Patarapol, Tula suffered from a metabolic bone disease, which impeded his ability to stand on his front legs. Tula’s condition began to deteriorate last week and on Sunday, his pulse became very weak.
Veterinarians attempted to resuscitate Tula, but he died later that evening.
Dr Patarapol said Tula’s remains will be examined for other contributing factors.