Imagine a tiny elephant, Khao Tom, clinging to life, rescued after being abandoned by her mother. This heart-wrenching story raises a critical question: what compels an elephant to leave its calf behind, and is this becoming a more frequent tragedy?
Khao Tom, a two-month-old elephant, found herself in the care of wildlife officers in Thailand, a testament to her resilience. Born with a congenital knee disorder, she struggled to keep up with her herd. Sadly, her mother made the difficult decision to move on without her. The team at the rescue center worked tirelessly to save her, providing round-the-clock care and a special diet. Khao Tom's story captured the public's heart, with people sending toys, formula, and donations.
But here's where it gets controversial... Khao Tom's case isn't unique. Reports indicate a concerning rise in abandoned elephant calves across Southeast Asia. A database compiled by The Guardian revealed a significant increase, from an average of about two a year between 2015 and 2022, to nine last year and 14 in 2025. But is this a genuine increase, or simply a reflection of greater awareness and reporting?
Professor Joshua Plotnik, a specialist in elephant behavior, explains that abandonment is usually rare. Elephants invest heavily in their young, with gestation lasting nearly two years. However, stress, threats to the herd's safety, or the death of the mother can lead to separation.
Habitat loss and human-elephant conflict are growing sources of stress. Elephants need vast areas to forage and find water, but these habitats are shrinking. A study in Nature suggested that 64% of Asian elephant habitat has been lost since 1700.
Elephants are adaptable, but this adaptability can lead to conflict with humans. As their natural ranges contract, they are pushed closer to farms, villages, and roads, which can disrupt movement patterns and trigger aversive behaviors. Some calves are separated due to falls or encounters with humans. In 2024, a calf in Indonesia was separated from its family after farmers drove the herd away. Earlier, another calf in Malaysia wandered into a village and got caught in a trap.
In India, a wildlife center has seen a slight decrease in displaced calves, possibly due to fewer floods. However, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) describes a "growing challenge" in this region, where calves are still separated from their herds due to floods, habitat loss, and conflict.
Plotnik suggests that while increased reporting may play a role in the rise of publicized cases, growing human pressures likely also impact the rate of herd-calf separations.
Khao Tom is unlikely to return to the wild. As elephant habitats continue to change, cases like hers highlight the harsh realities of life in the wild.
What are your thoughts? Do you think human actions are significantly contributing to this problem? Share your opinions in the comments below!
