Rescued elephant calf recovering in Thailand after herd left her behind
Khao Tom, a two-month-old elephant calf, is being cared for at the Bueng Chawak wildlife rescue centre in Thailand after rangers pulled her from a farming area inside Lam Khlong Ngu national park in September. She was born with a congenital disorder affecting her knees and struggled to keep pace with the herd. "We didn't think she would make it," says Natthanon Panpetch, senior veterinarian and director of the centre. She pulled through on round-the-clock care and a diet of rice porridge, khao tom in Thai, the dish she is named after. As the rescue team posted updates, the Thai public sent toys, formula and donations to support her recovery.
Khao Tom's case is one of at least five elephant calves reported lost or abandoned in Thailand in 2025, part of a rise across south and south-east Asia that researchers are trying to understand.
Source: What makes an elephant abandon her calf – and is it a growing problem? (theguardian.com).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: hello@happygood.news.
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