BUNG KAN — A wild elephant has once again crossed the Mekong River from Thailand into Laos, continuing a puzzling annual migration, officials said on 30 March.
Vissanu Kumpa, head of the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, told reporters that volunteer rangers at Ban Tha Dok Kham spotted the elephant entering the river near Pak Huai Na Khok in Bueng Khong Long district, heading toward the Laotian side. The crossing occurred around 6:00, about 1.2 kilometres from the sanctuary’s boundary.
Phu Wua rangers are closely monitoring the situation along the riverbank and have coordinated with local Laotian authorities at Ban Khon Khueng, urging them not to harm the elephant and to alert Thai officials immediately if it is spotted.
Officials said the elephant has exhibited this behaviour for several years, typically between March and April. “It floats across the river because the water is quite deep, then walks on small islands in the middle,” Vissanu said. “We still do not know exactly what it does on the other side. Some think it’s looking for a mate, but it’s more likely in search of food — our side has been harvested, but Laos still has sugarcane and fruits it likes.”
The sanctuary continues to focus on the elephant’s safety, coordinating with Laotian counterparts while observing its annual journey.
