The moment a wild elephant recognized the veterinarian who had treated him 12 years ago was captured on camera in a poignant moment. The 31-year-old elephant Plai Thang reached out to Dr. Pattarapol Maneeon’s hand during an unforeseen reunion.
In 2009, the elephant was found in Rayong, eastern Tʜᴀɪʟᴀɴᴅ, fumbling through a forest. It had trypanosomiasis, a potentially lethal parasitic ɪʟʟɴᴇss often known as sleeping sɪᴄᴋness. When Doctor Pattarapol arrived to treat the ailing jumbo, it was “near ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ,” with a fever, ʟᴏss of appetite, and swelling on its face, neck, and stomach. In addition, Plai Thang had swollen eyes, stiff legs and back, and anemia.
The weak animal was taken to the Forest Industry Organization’s property in Lampang province where a team from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation was dispatched to treat it. He was freed after several months of recovery.
Doctor Pattarapol asserted to have recognized the elephant’s distinctive sound, which he had last heard while on patrol 12 years prior. Plai Thang reacted to his summons by opening his trunk to welcome Doctor Pattarapol after being apart from humans for more than ten years. The vet said Plai Thang knew him. Plai Thang’s sound was extremely distinctive, according to Doctor Pattarapol, who claimed to have remembered it very distinctly.
When they first met, Plai Thang was an extremely aggressive elephant. He was unable to ғɪɢʜᴛ other elephants due to his weak body. He took a long time to get better, but he was incredibly smart and independent. According to Doctor Pattarapol, they just reconnected. They acknowledged one another and smiled.
Source: https://dailylifeworld.com
