Thai Water Elephants, an ancient belief, and its modern evidence,… in
Thailand have been found and documented some very notable examples
of the bodies of “Miniature Water Elephants”, tiny poisonous pachyderms
that are said to inhabit remote rivers and streams,… investigations by
scientists have so far been unable to prove or disprove the existence of
these diminutive dumbos.
Full Version: Thai Water Elephants
ok, i think this post needs something more, God. i mean, its like a sentence fragment... you have to finish it for it to make any sense.
im definitely interested in the idea of these tiny poisonous water elephants, but maybe a link or two would help this seem like something you didn't just make up while getting high.
im definitely interested in the idea of these tiny poisonous water elephants, but maybe a link or two would help this seem like something you didn't just make up while getting high.
I agree DS, I've been trying to find some info on these things and so far I havn't found anything.
Yes i agree DS, either tell us more god 18 or pass around whatever it is thats making you print this story. 
God 18 statement was taken from this site here, it is about half way down.
I can not find anything else on it, i'll keep looking tho.
I can not find anything else on it, i'll keep looking tho.
Thanx Althalus I am still having no luck finding anything more about these creatures.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
I am still having no luck finding anything more about these creatures. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
@ Oracle. I'v spent about an hour looking for the little poisonous elephants too. It seems very far-fetched to me, but hey I had an hour to spare. 
I think the idea of dinky elephants is very appealing.I WANT ONE!!!!
I found this wee bit to add to the thread Portal 
I must say it doesn't look like this creature has been around for very long .
I must say it doesn't look like this creature has been around for very long .
Thanx Kismet
I'm sure I read somewhere that there was information on this subject in the 'Cryptozoology A To Z' by Loren Coleman - if anyone has that book you might want to have a look for 'Thai Water Elephants' in there.
Sorry guys I only posted what I could find. I first heard about them on one of those discovery or discovery science or something like that and never heard anything else, so I kind of put this up hoping someone would add something to it. The show was real cool it even had the alleged remains of one of them, and they tested them. The results were inconclusive.
That sounds like it would have been very interestin God18 . I'll keep an eye out for more information . 
i thnik that these little elephants would be cool. I want want one!
never heard of them
Hi all,
I did a little bit of a search for this tiny elephant. Here's two articles (one and a follow-up) I found at http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archive...5/msg00001.html and http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archive.../msg00004.html:
The Nation
Dead 'water elephant' turns up in Mae Sot
Published on May 2, 2003
The carcass of a rare small animal similar in appearance to an elephant has been discovered in the possession of a resident of Mae Sot district, Tak province.
The owner, Direk Siangthaen, 28, a restaurant operator in Mae Sot district, said he got the carcass of the miniature animal, known to locals as a "water elephant", from Burma. The carcass, which is about 7.5cm tall and 12.5 cm wide, weighs about 300 grams.
Locals in Tak believe the water elephant is a rare creature bestowed with supernatural powers. Sala Chuainoo, a 50-year-old elephant keeper, said when he was very young his parents told him that an elephant running amok would never hurt a person carrying the tusk of a water elephant, and those carrying such a tusk would be able to quickly calm it.
He was told that water elephants could be found in muddy water on high mountains. Mae Jan Village in Tak's Umphang district used to be a water elephant habitat, he said.
Direk said he got the water elephant from a Burmese villager living opposite Mae Sot. The man told him he had caught the miniature elephant in a pond high in the mountains. The elephant only lived seven days after being caught.
"I believe it really is a water elephant, because every part of the animal is similar to a normal elephant. And I was also told that when it was alive its bellows were similar to those of an elephant," he said.
Direk took the carcass to Pha Woh Hospital in Mae Sot district and had the carcass x-rayed. About a hundred people thronged around him when they saw what he was carrying.
The x-rays showed that the water elephant to have a bone structure similar to that of a full-sized elephant, he said.
But he is worried somebody might try to steal the carcass from him, and so has decided not to keep the carcass at home.
The Nation
Water elephant 'has no place in traditional culture'
Published on May 5, 2003
An academic yesterday cast doubts on reports that a mythic "water elephant" has been found and rejected the idea that the animals form part of Thai traditional beliefs.
Dr Wittaya Damrongkiattisak said that the belief in the miniature creatures, which are supposed to have supernatural powers, was a relatively new one that had only recently been imported from Burma.
"I don't think the water elephant story is true," said Wittaya, who has taught at Maejo University and is an expert in religions and superstition.
The water elephant, supposedly a tiny animal with bone structure similar to that of full-sized elephants, was big news last week when a Tak resident showed a purported carcass of one to the public and had it x-rayed.
The carcass is about 7.5 cm tall and 12.5 cm wide, and weighs about 300 grams.
Direk Chiangthaen, the owner of the carcass, said he got the animal's body from a Burmese villager who said he caught the animal alive in a pond high in the mountains. The Burmese villager also claimed to have more of the beasts, he said.
Yesterday, Direk's elder brother Chanin said that a Bangkok merchant had offered to buy one of the water elephants for Bt500,000 but the Burmese man had yet to take up the offer.
"He wants more," Chanin said.
According to Chanin, many people have been clamouring to get a hold of the rare animal.
He added that the Burmese man had moved his water elephants to Thai territory after Burmese military officers started looking for the miniature animal following the reports in Thai newspapers.
Chanin said that he and Direk believed that the Burmese villager's water elephants were genuine - not something modified to look like a small elephant.
"We are ready to let the relevant agencies verify the carcass we own as long as we are well informed of the procedures and no legal action is taken against us," he said.
Colonel Songkran Sangkorn, the superintendent at Mae Sot Police Station, said Direk was unlikely to face any legal action.
I did a little bit of a search for this tiny elephant. Here's two articles (one and a follow-up) I found at http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archive...5/msg00001.html and http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archive.../msg00004.html:
The Nation
Dead 'water elephant' turns up in Mae Sot
Published on May 2, 2003
The carcass of a rare small animal similar in appearance to an elephant has been discovered in the possession of a resident of Mae Sot district, Tak province.
The owner, Direk Siangthaen, 28, a restaurant operator in Mae Sot district, said he got the carcass of the miniature animal, known to locals as a "water elephant", from Burma. The carcass, which is about 7.5cm tall and 12.5 cm wide, weighs about 300 grams.
Locals in Tak believe the water elephant is a rare creature bestowed with supernatural powers. Sala Chuainoo, a 50-year-old elephant keeper, said when he was very young his parents told him that an elephant running amok would never hurt a person carrying the tusk of a water elephant, and those carrying such a tusk would be able to quickly calm it.
He was told that water elephants could be found in muddy water on high mountains. Mae Jan Village in Tak's Umphang district used to be a water elephant habitat, he said.
Direk said he got the water elephant from a Burmese villager living opposite Mae Sot. The man told him he had caught the miniature elephant in a pond high in the mountains. The elephant only lived seven days after being caught.
"I believe it really is a water elephant, because every part of the animal is similar to a normal elephant. And I was also told that when it was alive its bellows were similar to those of an elephant," he said.
Direk took the carcass to Pha Woh Hospital in Mae Sot district and had the carcass x-rayed. About a hundred people thronged around him when they saw what he was carrying.
The x-rays showed that the water elephant to have a bone structure similar to that of a full-sized elephant, he said.
But he is worried somebody might try to steal the carcass from him, and so has decided not to keep the carcass at home.
The Nation
Water elephant 'has no place in traditional culture'
Published on May 5, 2003
An academic yesterday cast doubts on reports that a mythic "water elephant" has been found and rejected the idea that the animals form part of Thai traditional beliefs.
Dr Wittaya Damrongkiattisak said that the belief in the miniature creatures, which are supposed to have supernatural powers, was a relatively new one that had only recently been imported from Burma.
"I don't think the water elephant story is true," said Wittaya, who has taught at Maejo University and is an expert in religions and superstition.
The water elephant, supposedly a tiny animal with bone structure similar to that of full-sized elephants, was big news last week when a Tak resident showed a purported carcass of one to the public and had it x-rayed.
The carcass is about 7.5 cm tall and 12.5 cm wide, and weighs about 300 grams.
Direk Chiangthaen, the owner of the carcass, said he got the animal's body from a Burmese villager who said he caught the animal alive in a pond high in the mountains. The Burmese villager also claimed to have more of the beasts, he said.
Yesterday, Direk's elder brother Chanin said that a Bangkok merchant had offered to buy one of the water elephants for Bt500,000 but the Burmese man had yet to take up the offer.
"He wants more," Chanin said.
According to Chanin, many people have been clamouring to get a hold of the rare animal.
He added that the Burmese man had moved his water elephants to Thai territory after Burmese military officers started looking for the miniature animal following the reports in Thai newspapers.
Chanin said that he and Direk believed that the Burmese villager's water elephants were genuine - not something modified to look like a small elephant.
"We are ready to let the relevant agencies verify the carcass we own as long as we are well informed of the procedures and no legal action is taken against us," he said.
Colonel Songkran Sangkorn, the superintendent at Mae Sot Police Station, said Direk was unlikely to face any legal action.
nice links
QUOTE(Halo_Jones @ May 13 2003, 11:31 AM) [snapback]39595[/snapback]
@ Oracle. 
I'v spent about an hour looking for the little poisonous elephants too. It seems very far-fetched to me, but hey I had an hour to spare. 
I think the idea of dinky elephants is very appealing.I WANT ONE!!!!
Dinky Elephants... cute...
)
OMG !!! I got to have them all.........
How come anytime there's some kind of rare animal people want to keep it as a pet? Haven't we ruined enough species that way? I mean come on.
How are these poisonous pachyderms poisonous? Skin? Venom tusks (or fangs)?[attachmentid=20338]
QUOTE(Jeenuh @ Nov 10 2005, 06:10 AM) [snapback]925434[/snapback]
How come anytime there's some kind of rare animal people want to keep it as a pet? Haven't we ruined enough species that way? I mean come on.
IMO, we haven't ruined enough. I want a miniature water elephant!
The latest picture of Thai water elephant.
In my country somebody said that water elephant is fake. It made by Burma trader to cheat money from tourist like this one. It cost 3 million bath (Thai currency)or ~75,000 dollar! But somebody said water elephant is real. They has seen it swim in the river or even caught it and feed it like a pet, but it will die in 1-2 week later.
By the way. I took this pic from Thairath news. This article write in Thai language. If I have more time I will translate this article into english.
In regards to the Thai water elephant, I think I might be able to help out. I travel quite a bit and am a collector of sideshow gaffs.
The tradition of the Thai Water Elephants goes back to the 1800s. It died out after the turn of that century but for whatever reason seems to have bubbled back into existance.
The myth goes that deep in the low land water ways (or high in the mountainous rivers) there exist packs of tiny elephants that spend their entire life paddling in the water. They are no more than three to four inches tall, and are said to be legendary for their poisonous tusks, which are said to still be filled with enough venom to kill a man even long after the little animals death. Only experienced hunters are able to sneak up on the mini-elephants in the wild, as only their trunks are visible poking above the waters surface. Unwarry travelers that happen across the paths of these mini-beasts usually die, therefore no one who stumbles across them lives to tell the tail. Additionally, the little elephants are notoriously hard to maintain in captivity and usually die within a few hours or days. From time to time the tiny mummified remains of these creatures surface in markets and obscure shops.
The truth behind the myth is that these curious little mummys are sold to tourists by clever taxidermists. They are in fact, a regional mouse whos little corpse has been quickly and ingeniusly altered after its death to give the appearence of an elephant. The front legs are deboned at the knee and two of the larger bones from these areas are then sharpened and fashioned as tusks. The poisonous little dumbos are then dried and sold as curiousities by Burma traders and hoaxsters.
I have one. He is proudly displayed in my cabinet of curiousities between my Jenny Hanover, and a rather moth-eaten FeeJee Mermaid.
Hope this helps (sorry if I ruined the sense of wonder for anyone)
DrWhomo
The tradition of the Thai Water Elephants goes back to the 1800s. It died out after the turn of that century but for whatever reason seems to have bubbled back into existance.
The myth goes that deep in the low land water ways (or high in the mountainous rivers) there exist packs of tiny elephants that spend their entire life paddling in the water. They are no more than three to four inches tall, and are said to be legendary for their poisonous tusks, which are said to still be filled with enough venom to kill a man even long after the little animals death. Only experienced hunters are able to sneak up on the mini-elephants in the wild, as only their trunks are visible poking above the waters surface. Unwarry travelers that happen across the paths of these mini-beasts usually die, therefore no one who stumbles across them lives to tell the tail. Additionally, the little elephants are notoriously hard to maintain in captivity and usually die within a few hours or days. From time to time the tiny mummified remains of these creatures surface in markets and obscure shops.
The truth behind the myth is that these curious little mummys are sold to tourists by clever taxidermists. They are in fact, a regional mouse whos little corpse has been quickly and ingeniusly altered after its death to give the appearence of an elephant. The front legs are deboned at the knee and two of the larger bones from these areas are then sharpened and fashioned as tusks. The poisonous little dumbos are then dried and sold as curiousities by Burma traders and hoaxsters.
I have one. He is proudly displayed in my cabinet of curiousities between my Jenny Hanover, and a rather moth-eaten FeeJee Mermaid.
Hope this helps (sorry if I ruined the sense of wonder for anyone)
DrWhomo
QUOTE(neen @ May 13 2003, 09:14 AM) [snapback]39526[/snapback]
Yes i agree DS, either tell us more god 18 or pass around whatever it is thats making you print this story.
yo - neen > THAT is the richest thing I've read on here in weeks LOL YES please do pass it around - me first!
And for the record I've tried to research the topic of Thai Water Elephants but dude (AKA God18) there ain't nothing out there....perhaps you are...lol - just kidding BUT seriously.
How do we know these aren't actually sinister mouse shapeshifters, disguising themselves as trinkets to be sold to unsuspecting tourists???
QUOTE(BigDaddy_GFS @ Nov 27 2005, 03:07 PM) [snapback]950522[/snapback]
How do we know these aren't actually sinister mouse shapeshifters, disguising themselves as trinkets to be sold to unsuspecting tourists???
I just got sent this link. I figured that others that posted here might want to see it too. Some of the description looks familar.
Anyway, I thought it was neat...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...=ADME:B:EF:US:1
QUOTE(BigDaddy_GFS @ Nov 27 2005, 11:07 AM) [snapback]950522[/snapback]
How do we know these aren't actually sinister mouse shapeshifters, disguising themselves as trinkets to be sold to unsuspecting tourists???
um, okay
Howdy folks...
I could be an elephant Shrew, with the tusks added later...
More pics...
http://www.calacademy.org/research/bmammal...otographic.html
I could be an elephant Shrew, with the tusks added later...
More pics...
http://www.calacademy.org/research/bmammal...otographic.html
Jedi Master is correct. Shrews are posionous mammals that inhabit river and stream ecosystems (especially the water shrew).
QUOTE(frogfish @ Jun 19 2006, 05:36 PM) [snapback]1237788[/snapback]
Jedi Master is correct. Shrews are posionous mammals that inhabit river and stream ecosystems (especially the water shrew).
since when are shrews posionous. toxic maybe, posionous no
Interesting. There's a cryptid in India called Makara, it's said to have an elephant head and a fish body. Some believe it's a water elephant.
QUOTE
Interesting. There's a cryptid in India called Makara, it's said to have an elephant head and a fish body. Some believe it's a water elephant
These are parts of Hindu mythology
me too think its not real. maybe a baby elephant some kind....
QUOTE
maybe a baby elephant some kind....
That's poisonous? I don't think so.
I still think water shrew.
Water shrew seems most likely to me as well.
QUOTE(ThaiMysteries @ Nov 10 2005, 07:06 PM) [snapback]925908[/snapback]
The latest picture of Thai water elephant.
In my country somebody said that water elephant is fake. It made by Burma trader to cheat money from tourist like this one. It cost 3 million bath (Thai currency)or ~75,000 dollar! But somebody said water elephant is real. They has seen it swim in the river or even caught it and feed it like a pet, but it will die in 1-2 week later.
By the way. I took this pic from Thairath news. This article write in Thai language. If I have more time I will translate this article into english.
Dude, that would be cool! Thanks for that. Yeah I rememberr reading in a book by Dr Shuker about these wee buggers.
QUOTE(BigDaddy_GFS @ Nov 27 2005, 04:07 PM) [snapback]950522[/snapback]
How do we know these aren't actually sinister mouse shapeshifters, disguising themselves as trinkets to be sold to unsuspecting tourists???
We can only hope.
Sheer genius.QUOTE(frogfish @ Jun 19 2006, 10:36 PM) [snapback]1237788[/snapback]
Jedi Master is correct. Shrews are posionous mammals that inhabit river and stream ecosystems (especially the water shrew).
eh!? The only truly poinonous mammal is the platypus. Shrews may transmit a disease or give you a nasty bacterial infection via a bit, but they ain't poisonous. I've handled shrews before, and even witnessed someone getting bitten by one. We're all still here. Plus the fact that shrews make up part of a staple diet for various owls, merlins, sparrowhawks... and you don't see them keeling over dead due to "shrew poisoning".
Who knows, maybes they're (warning, HPL reference here!) Zoogs?
RKD
QUOTE
eh!? The only truly poinonous mammal is the platypus. Shrews may transmit a disease or give you a nasty bacterial infection via a bit, but they ain't poisonous. I've handled shrews before, and even witnessed someone getting bitten by one. We're all still here. Plus the fact that shrews make up part of a staple diet for various owls, merlins, sparrowhawks... and you don't see them keeling over dead due to "shrew poisoning".
Not so...
"Some species of the small, shy shrew have poisonous saliva that they use to immobilize their prey. Humans don't have to worry too much, however. These venomous shrews usually eat fish, frogs, small mice, and newts--not people. "
http://encarta.msn.com/list_poisonoussurpr..._Poisonous.html
Shrew, common name applied to certain small mouselike mammals, related to the mole, with a long, pointed snout and soft, gray-brown, velvety fur. Some species are among the smallest of mammals. Most live on the ground, although a few species are semiaquatic or arboreal. Shrews are active, nocturnal animals that feed primarily on insects and worms but also eat mice equal to their own size, as well as plants and occasionally fish and other aquatic animals. Many species have glands from which a fluid with a disagreeable odor is secreted, and some species have a poisonous saliva. Members of one subfamily of shrews hunt by means of echolocation, although this sense is relatively crude compared to its development in bats.
The shrew family is the largest among the insectivores (see Insectivore), and numerous species are found on all major land areas of the world except the polar regions, Australia, New Zealand, Greenland, and Tasmania. In the United States, the most common are the long-tailed shrews and the short-tailed shrews. Long-tailed shrews are slightly less than 7.5 cm (less than 3 in) long. The ears are larger than in some other shrews, and the teeth are brown at the tip. Five to seven young are produced in a litter each spring. The short-tailed shrew known as the mole shrew, the most common shrew in the eastern United States, is about 11.4 cm (about 4.5 in) long. Other insectivores, such as otter shrews, belong to different families. Tree shrews and elephant shrews are not true shrews but belong to separate orders.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761555846/Shrew.html
Hmm very interesting. Curious that venom has developed in these wee beasties. Never heard of poison in placental mammals.
RKD
RKD
Drwhomo sent this Ebay link to me. It look real but look fake, too. What do you think about it?
It looks like a mouse with tusks and a trunk to me, i mean seriously take away the tusks and trunk and it's a mouse
about a year ago, i watched a documentary on this on national geographic,
in the end after the X raying and stuff, it was found out that it was constructed, a hox
in the end after the X raying and stuff, it was found out that it was constructed, a hox
Water Shrew.
Its a dead shrew with added parts.
QUOTE(ThaiMysteries @ Jun 22 2006, 09:50 PM) [snapback]1242454[/snapback]
I hope this ebay seller gets in trouble. That's just plain ridiculous!
QUOTE(frogfish @ Jun 23 2006, 08:18 AM) [snapback]1242778[/snapback]
Its a dead shrew with added parts.
....................THAT THEY'RE SELLING FOR $60,000!!!!!!!.....
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.