Thailand elephant death toll increases

Wildlife officials in Thailand they have discovered the carcasses of five more wild elephants downstream from a waterfall where the bodies of six other elephants were found at the weekend.

The carcasses were discovered by a drone being used to investigate how the first six elephants plunged to their deaths at the Haew Narok – Ravine of Hell – waterfall in Khao Yai National Park in northeastern Thailand, said Sompote Maneerat, spokesman for the national parks, wildlife and plant conservation department.

Park officials said the first group of elephants evidently died when trying to reach a dead calf. The new victims are thought to have come from the same herd.

The ravines usually fill up with gushing water during the rainy season.

Sompote said the death toll of 11 is the highest number of elephants to die in a single incident in Khao Yai. Eight elephants died there almost 30 years ago.

The elephant population at the park is estimated to be about 300.