In Thailand, a baby elephant named Park Mae Mae was found guarding the body of her d.e.a.d mother, Moke Chue, after she ate crops that were heavily sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers. Unfortunately, the adult elephant was poisoned by the crops, leaving her 11-month-old offspring alone and heartbroken.
Park Mae Mae was discovered by villagers around 12 hours after her mother’s death, and the heartbreaking footage shows the confused baby elephant beside her mother’s collapsed body.
This unfortunate incident highlights the importance of spreading awareness about the dangers of using harmful chemicals on crops and the impact it can have on wildlife.
On April 23, Thai villagers found Park Mae Mae, an orphaned baby elephant, next to the corpse of her mother. She had been with her mother for about 12 hours after she had died and refused to leave her side. Video footage shows the young elephant confused and next to her mother who was lying on the ground.
The grieving baby elephant is seen protecting her deceased mother’s body after she consumed poisonous crops in Thailand. The Elephant Conservation Foundation’s chairman, Sangduean Chailert, stated: “We have dispatched a team to investigate the village.” Both the baby elephant and another adult elephant, who were discovered with them, were transported to a facility for observation in the event that they had also ingested some of the poisonous corn. Pak Mae Mae and her mother had previously resided in an elephant camp that catered to tourists, but due to Covid-19, their mahout had to accompany them home after the camp lost income.
The adult elephant is believed to have been poisoned after consuming crops that were heavily sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers, without the mother’s knowledge. In the picture, the baby elephant stands next to her deceased mother’s body.
According to reports, the mahout allowed the elephants to roam around the village during the day, but they escaped that night and wandered into the corn farm.
The deceased elephant’s body was taken for an autopsy, while the mahout’s elephants were brought to the facility.
Elephants are Thailand’s national animal, with an estimated 2,000 elephants living in the wild and a similar number in captivity. They are protected by laws, and killing them carries a maximum prison term of up to three years and a fine of 1,000 baht (£25).
