"I will be very happy if the elephant is sent here," Sangduen Chailert, owner of the Elephant Nature Park in Chiangmai, told the New Straits Times.

"It is unacceptable to think of killing it. It is not right to punish the elephant in such a cruel manner."

The 15-year-old jumbo "Adun," which featured alongside Chow Yun-fat and Jodie Foster in the popular Hollywood movie, injured its 35-year-old keeper at a Malaysian zoo as it was being prepared for a bath last month.

The keeper is still hospitalized in critical condition, and the elephant is considered too dangerous and unpredictable to remain at the zoo.

Zoo Malacca Director Mohamad Nawayai told AFP Thursday that he was interested in the offer from Sangduen.

"We would like to hear from him. I have visited the sanctuary. It will be suitable for Adun," he said.

Mohamad said Adun, who has been isolated from other elephants, could not be released into the wild.

"It does not know how to live in the wild since it was removed from the jungle when it was only 3- years-old. We fear it will hurt itself or be a threat to humans," he said.

Mohamad said the zoo does not want to put the elephant down. It would be "the last, last resort," he said.

SPACE.WIRE