Ratchadaporn “Bow” Srisamut

Elephant Veterinarian

Industry : Public Service

Dr Ratchadaporn “Bow” Srisamut’s patients can weigh several tonnes, live far from conventional clinics and sometimes require her to travel considerable distances at short notice. Across southern Thailand, the elephant veterinarian has built her career around treating sick, injured and bedridden animals, often in remote locations.

Beginning at Krabi Elephant Hospital, Dr Bow has cared for more than 1,000 elephants, from young calves to ageing working animals. The work has also brought her into close contact with the mahouts and communities whose lives are intertwined with their care, giving her practice a human dimension alongside the veterinary one.

In 2023, Dr Bow stepped away from her hospital position to care for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. She did not, however, leave elephant medicine behind. She continues to travel throughout the region, providing mobile veterinary services free of charge to animals in need.

Her reach extends further through Facebook, where complex cases become an opportunity for public education. By explaining elephant medicine in accessible terms, she gives followers a closer understanding of animal health, welfare and conservation, as well as the relationship between elephants and their caretakers. Bow’s work brings together specialist medicine, public service and personal commitment – care delivered wherever a very large patient happens to need it.