PUBLISHED : 4 Feb 2026 at 12:23
Officials of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation check on Seedor Hu Pub, a wild elephant who died while being relocated from Khon Kaen to Loei on Tuesday night. (Photo: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation)
An investigation is continuing into the death of a wild elephant during its translocation on Tuesday night as public mourning expressed concern over the well-being of wild animals.
Based on preliminary assessments, aspiration of food was believed to be the cause of death, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reported on Wednesday, adding that a detailed necropsy would also be performed.
The deceased male elephant, Seedor Hu Pub, was about 15-20 years old and originally inhabited the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei province. He later migrated to agricultural areas in Phu Wiang district in Khon Kaen.
He frequently wandered close to communities and had fatally attacked a local resident, the department said.
The translocation, ordered by the Administrative Court of Khon Kaen, was to move the animal back to the Loei sanctuary, which was scheduled between Tuesday and Wednesday. Two main objectives of the move were to protect the safety of residents and to return the animal to an appropriate natural habitat.
The department said the operation followed all international standards, including establishing multi-agency command centres, employing experienced veterinarians and animal care specialists, calculating anaesthetic dosage appropriate to the elephant’s weight and condition, monitoring vital signs throughout the procedure and positioning the elephant suitable for its respiratory system.
Despite careful planning, Seedor Hu Pub experienced a sudden physiological crisis after the move began at 10.50pm. The vet team immediately halted the convoy and conducted emergency medical intervention. However, they were unable to save his life.
The department said it has appointed a committee of experts to review every step of the operation.
“Managing human–elephant conflict is a highly complex task requiring extreme caution and lessons from this incident will be used to refine operational protocols to better ensure public safety and wildlife welfare.
“We thank the public for understanding and reaffirm our commitment to responsible, transparent, science‑based and ethical wildlife conservation practices,” the department said.