Three months after 24 very rare, gentle died inside a national park, the mystery of what killed them remains unanswered.
After a lot of finger pointing and theories, officials yesterday stepped back from blaming foot-and-mouth disease for the deaths, as it was only found in one dead animal.
In December, 24 gaurs – the world’s largest cow – died in Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The deaths more than decimated the small population of the animals, believed to be about 150.
After testing the remains, authorities found one case of foot-and-mouth disease, which has been known to kill gaur elsewhere. Potentially fatal bacteria were found in another 13 animals, but there was no evidence that caused their deaths, according to Nipon Chotibal, acting national parks chief.
No smoking guns were discovered in their stomachs, apart from slightly elevated levels of arsenic, which also could not have resulted in 24 animals dying in a short period of time.
The park remains closed for now while wildlife authorities prepare quarantine measures. They hope to reopen it in May, The Nation reported.
Photo: N.A. Naseer
Related:
Sad Mystery: More giant, gentle gaurs turning up dead in national park
Human politics blamed in death of 18 super rare giant animals
