PUBLISHED : 30 Mar 2026 at 10:23
The wild elephant is seen crossing the Mekong River from Bueng Kan province into Laos on Sunday morning. (Photo: Phuwua Wildlife Sanctuary)
BUENG KAN – Phuwua Wildlife Sanctuary rangers are waiting anxiously on the bank of the Mekong River for the return of a wild elephant that crossed the river into Laos on Sunday morning.
Wisanu Kumpa, chief of the wildlife sanctuary, said the elephant had earlier fed off farmland at Ban Tha Dok Kham in Bueng Khong Long district. It then crossed Highway 212 and walked to the Mekong River near the estuary with Huai Na Khok stream. This is 1.2 kilometres from the wildlife sanctuary.
The elephant then crossed the river about 6am on Sunday.
“Officials of Phuwua Wildlife Sanctuary are waiting at the bank of the Mekong River to ensure the safe return of this wild elephant to the Thai side,” Mr Wisanu said.