Khao Tom, a two-month-old elephant, plays with a wildlife officer, nudging his face and curling her trunk around his wrist. She survived thanks to round-the-clock care and a diet of rice porridge – khao tom in Thai. As the team shared updates on social media, the Thai public rallied behind the elephant calf, sending toys, formula and donations. In 2025, the media reported on at least five other elephant calves in Thailand that were lost or abandoned. Khao Tom is unlikely to return to the wild, says Natthanon.

Source: The Guardian January 02, 2026 21:31 UTC