Dead gaur in Kui Buri prompts police investigation
Kui Buri National Park officials have filed a police complaint after a dead gaur in Kui Buri was found with bullet fragments embedded in its body.
The large male gaur was discovered outside the national park near Ban Phu Bon in Hat Kham subdistrict on 4 August after local residents alerted officials.
Nithat Nunsong, director of Protected Areas Regional Office 3’s Phetchaburi branch, said the animal was estimated to be between 21 and 25 years old and weighed approximately 900 to 1,000 kilogrammes.
It measured 240 centimetres in length and 160 centimetres in height, with a maximum horn span of 77 centimetres.
Officials found several small wounds along its back and left abdomen. A preliminary examination using a metal detector indicated that objects resembling bullet fragments were embedded near the wounds.
Bullet fragments found during post-mortem
Veterinarians and wildlife conservation officials conducted a post-mortem examination alongside Kui Buri National Park staff, Border Patrol Police Unit 1451 and officers from Ban Yang Chum Police Station.
The examination found that bullet fragments had caused severe damage to organs in the animal’s chest, resulting in extensive inflammation and internal bleeding. Veterinarians concluded that the gunshot injuries were the cause of death.
Signs of an existing illness were also found around the abdominal lining and liver. Samples from the liver, lungs and heart were collected for further examination. No abnormalities were detected in the heart, and there were no signs of foot-and-mouth disease.
Officials buried the carcass at the scene in accordance with veterinary procedures. The gaur’s head and horns were taken to Kui Buri National Park headquarters for safekeeping.
Park officials later filed a complaint with Ban Yang Chum Police Station, which is investigating the shooting and seeking those responsible.
