BANGKOK: With tourism industry turning the hard hit amid coronavirus, more than 4000 elephants kept at home are likely to suffer the reduction on their regular fodder.

Thailand’s tourism industry that brought home more than US $60 billion last year is hard hit by flight cancellation and lockdown world-wide. With the decline of the tourists in the country, looking after the elephants has become a big challenge. Elephants eat roughly 10 percent of their bodyweight in food everyday, so for an elephant weighing 3500 kg, at least 360 kg food is required everyday.

There are more than 4000 domestic elephants in Thailand.

Thailand which reported first coronavirus infection case on Jan 12 has got 1771 cases till date. 12 persons have died of corona virus here.

Sangduen ‘Lek’ Chailert the founder of Save Elephant Foundation fears the worst as he sees no chance of getting relief for the elephant in the near future as the world is busy fighting against coronavirus.