A female elephant being treated for injuries at Surin's Elephant Hospital since it was hit by a car on May 29 in Sa Kaew died yesterday after it choked on food.

Its owner Somsak Salangam expressed gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen for kindly supporting the cost of its treatment, which enabled the animal to live for the last two months.

Stem-cell treatment

The seriously injured beast underwent stem-cell injection treatment and had been placed on a hydraulic bed at the National Institute of Elephant Research and Health. Its condition was improving and a pool for water therapy was nearly complete.

But at 12.30am, Phang Kamlai choked on food it had eaten the previous day and couldn't breathe.

Resuscitation in vain

A team of vets tried to resuscitate the animal for 30 minutes but couldn't dislodge the food stuck in its respiratory tract.

Somsak said he was sadden by the loss but he thanked HM the Queen for helping Phang Kamlai to live two months longer. He said he would take the body for burial at Wat Pa Kauy Ajiang in Than Toom district.