It took Pattarapol Maneeorn five days trekking through the jungle in Chanthaburi province to find a 65-year-old wild elephant stuck in mud. By the time the wildlife vet arrived, the animal was breathing slowly, his eyes showing his fatigue; his heart, left lung and kidney were being pressed down on by his six-tonne body.
Given medicine and doses of vitamins, the elephant became a little stronger. Three days later, a group of soldiers and local villagers tried to haul the creature from the mud. He groaned noisily, trying to lift himself up. Finally he was able to stand on his hind legs, one last time, before he fell dead to the ground.
"He had been waiting for me for so long. And it was too late to nurse him back to health.
"But I couldn't get there any faster, I just couldn't," Pattarapol admitted, his eyes hidden behind black sunglasses. Before his arrival, he was treating a wounded Indian muntjac deer in Kao Yai, about 250km away.
Wild animals do not show signs of weakness or injury if not severely injured. And at that time the elephant didn't need the most skilful vet, just the quickest to arrive to save his life. But, what if there is only one vet. How can he save every life? How can he always arrive on time? "It's impossible," he said.
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For more animal-esque music, news, and issues, tune in to Kitty Mowmow's Animal Expo online at www.thecapstone.ua.edu, Sunday nights 8-10 central.
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