Elephant dies in Thailand after being fed by tourists

An elephant has died in Thailand after being fed food by a tourist that contained chemicals that are dangerous to the elephants.

An elephant camp on the island of Koh Chang in eastern Thailand is warning tourists not to give elephants food containing chemicals after an elephant died after eating chemical-contaminated bananas.

A few weeks ago, a 20-year-old male elephant at Kaebai Meechai Elephant Camp on Koh Chang in Trat province suffered from flatulence and indigestion after eating food brought by tourists, according to the elephant's mahout (trainer), Chaisawan Phisin, nicknamed "Nueng."

When the elephant fell, Nueng discovered that the offending food was bananas bought at the market and treated with ethylene gas.

A veterinarian was called from the elephant hospital in Lampang province.

The sick animal underwent an endoscopy, X-rays and several treatments, however, its condition worsened until it died on Saturday.

In markets and fresh produce stores, fruit is often placed in containers containing ethylene gas, which allows it to ripen on its own.

However, this chemical can be fatal to elephants.

Note: The source of this article, The Thaiger , is talking about ethylene gas, a gas naturally produced by fruits like bananas.

It could also be ethylene oxide , a pesticide that is dangerous to the health of both humans and elephants and is banned in Europe.

The camp asks for tourists' cooperation in ensuring that any food they bring is not treated with chemicals, something they say tourists will understand.

It's just a matter of education.

Camp owner Sakchai Khanrakul said the elephant was 20 years old and had been raised at the camp its entire life.

He's never been sick before, Sakchai said.

The fallen elephant, aged 20, had lived here since birth.

We loved him and had a strong bond with him.

We took very good care of him, he was very happy, and his favorite food was sugar cane and bananas.

He always ate his favorite foods first.

The animal was worth four to five million baht.

There is a group that wants to buy his carcass for 100,000 baht (2,766 euros), but he is not for sale.

We will bury his body today."

Phakphong Sangwiset, director of Phattana Animal Hospital in Lampang, said he wanted to inform tourists that elephants like to eat leaves, grass, sugarcane and bananas and may occasionally eat watermelon, cucumbers and other fruits as treats.

However, the fruits must be clean and not treated with chemicals.

In the wild, Asian elephants have an average lifespan of around 60 years, but some reach 70 years.

In captivity, in camps, zoos and animal parks, the species is known to live to a similar age with proper care and feeding.

Thai farmers use a lot of pesticides, it is important to think about this and when you eat fruit, remember to wash your hands afterward.

The elephant probably died because it ate the bananas whole, with the peel, and whatever killed it can also poison you.