Tourist trampled to death by killer elephant in Thailand
· Toronto Sun
An elephant has killed a tourist in Thailand, marking the third fatality linked to the animal.
A wild bull elephant killed a tourist in central Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park on Monday, a park official said, the third fatality linked to the same animal.
The 65-year-old Thai tourist from Lopburi province was on an early-morning, pre-sunrise walk on Monday with his wife in Khao Yai National Park when he was trampled to death by the notorious bull elephant known as Oyewan, national park chief Chaiya Huayhongthong told AFP .
The victim was identified as Jirathachai Jiraphatboonyathorn, the Post reported.
Killer elephant claims another victim
“He was the third person killed by Oyewan,” according to Huayhongthong, who added that the elephant may also be responsible for several more deaths that remain unsolved.
“The elephant rushed at the man, grabbed him with his trunk, slammed him to the ground and stomped on him,” as other campers watched in horror, the Bangkok Post reported.
The man was killed instantly, just 20 metres from his tent, according to the outlet.
Park rangers scared the beast away, allowing for the man’s wife to escape, authorities said.
What can be done?
Thai officials are set to meet later this week to discuss what to do with the killer creature.
“We will probably decide to relocate him or change his behaviour,” Huayhongthong said, without elaborating.
It is estimated that 227 people have been killed by wild elephants in Thailand between 2012 and 2024, citing a report from the country’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Wild elephant numbers in Thailand rose from 334 in 2015 to almost 800 last year, prompting authorities to administer contraceptive vaccines to female animals in an effort to control their ballooning population.