This story will hopefully have a happy ending to help lift the spirits of a mourning nation.  As elephants hit the news this week, an injured calf has been saved from hunters by Chanthaburi villagers.

Forestry officials are now looking for a surrogate mother for him.

The three-month-old baby’s front left leg was hurt by a trap when the Moo 12 village chief  and four other villagers found him in a weak condition .

The baby elephant was in a jungle in Khaeng Hang Maew district in Chantaburi.

The baby elephant was led from the forest, put on a pickup truck and taken to a wildlife office in Tha Takiab district in Chachoengsao, in the early hours of Thursday. Veterinarians from Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary were sent to the office to treat its wounds.

The head of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary said that the calf was safe and they were happy that its health was improving after vets fed it baby milk after they had treated it.

It would appear from the 100 kg baby elephant’s wounds that it had been trapped for about three days.

The calf will stay at the sanctuary for further treatment while vets are monitoring him round the clock.

The problem is that the calf needs to be fed naturally and  the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary is contacting other elephant centres across the country to find out whether they have a nursing female available.

This is just another tragic example of how callous individuals are prepared to torture these noble beasts in pursuit of financial gain.

There must be fears for the calf’s mother as she would not have abandoned her baby and sadly it is highly likely she has fallen victim to the poachers.

It is to be hoped that the perpitrators will be brought to justice before more elephants are injured or killed.

(With thanks to the Bangkok Post)