October 9, 2019
It has now emerged from drone footage that 11 elephants who fell into the waterfall trying to help each other died.
Drones have located the bodies of 11 elephants that fell into the water at Haew Narok falls in Khao Yai National Park on October 5, while only two of the herd have survived.
A barricade will be erected to prevent other wildlife from falling in, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.
“At this point we can confirm that this herd had 13 elephants, 11 fell into the waterfall and died, while only 2 survived and are back in the forest,” Varawut said. Five elephant bodies were found on October 5, with another five later located by the drones along the river.
A press conference confirming the extent of the tragedy was held on Tuesday morning at Khao Yai National Park’s Nern Hom checkpoint, hosted by Nakhon Nayok governor Nattaphong Sirichana and Prachin Buri governor Phibun Hatthakitkosol, along with officials of Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation as well as the Disaster Response Association.
The park spans Prachin Buri and Nakhon Nayok provinces.
Varawut expressed his sadness about the herd’s drowning, but viewed the danger posed by the falls as beyond anyone’s power to control.
“I have therefore ordered the construction of a barricade to prevent wildlife from falling into the waterfall,” he said.