NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand – The Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo moved the gharial Pharaoh, which is more than 4.52 metres long, into a temporary water pool. The risky operation was needed because of construction work at his old home.
No one was injured — not the animal and not a single member of the rescue team. The new pool sits next to the zoo’s seminar centre.
Pharaoh moves into a temporary enclosure
The gharial will stay in that temporary home while his original exhibit is rebuilt and turned into a different display. The move happened on August 6 inside the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo.
The veterinarian team, the animal keepers and the Krai-Thong Team all took part. Dozens of staff controlled every step of the operation.
Violent twisting made the operation dangerous
Helpers rated the operation as high-risk. If the animal feels threatened, it can twist or roll aggressively.
Such movements could have caused serious injuries for Pharaoh and the rescue workers.
said a zoo official. That is why the animal’s body had to be securely fixed in place.
Dozens of staff locked down the body
Dozens of staff held the animal in a fixed position. They sat on anatomically safe points of the body to keep it still.
That way the twisting forces were neutralised and further rolling was stopped. The teams worked according to animal-welfare guidelines throughout.
Animal and rescuers come through uninjured
The relocation into the temporary enclosure finished successfully. Pharaoh and all team members involved remained uninjured.