An elephant camp in Koh Chang, eastern Thailand, is warning tourists not to feed elephants food containing chemicals after an elephant died after eating chemically-contaminated bananas.
A few weeks ago, a 20 year old male elephant at Kaebai Meechai Elephant Camp in Koh Chang, Trat province, fell ill with flatulence and indigestion after eating food brought in by some tourists, according to the elephant’s mahout (trainer) Chaisawan “Nueng” Phisin.
When the elephant fell in, Nueng found the offending food to be market-bought bananas treated with ethylene gas.
A veterinarian was called in from the Elephant Hospital in Lampang province. The poorly animal underwent an endoscopy, X-rays, and several treatments. However, his condition worsened until he passed away on Saturday.
At fresh markets and stores, fruit is often placed in containers with ethylene gas which allows it to…
