Home / Disasters and Accidents / Rogue Elephant Kills Third Victim in Thailand
Rogue Elephant Kills Third Victim in Thailand
2 Feb
Summary
- A wild bull elephant fatally attacked a Thai tourist in Khao Yai National Park.
- The elephant, named Phlai Oyewan, has killed three people and may be responsible for more deaths.
- Authorities are meeting to decide the fate of the elephant, considering relocation or behavioral change.
A 65-year-old Thai tourist was tragically killed by a wild bull elephant in Khao Yai National Park on Monday morning. The elephant, identified as Phlai Oyewan, attacked the man while he was walking with his wife, trampling him to death. This incident represents the third confirmed fatality caused by the rogue animal, with park officials suspecting Phlai Oyewan may be responsible for additional unsolved deaths.
Park rangers managed to scare the elephant away, allowing the victim's wife to escape unharmed. The elephant was reportedly in 'musth,' a period of heightened aggression in male elephants. Authorities are planning a meeting this Friday to decide on the elephant's fate, with potential actions including relocation or attempts to alter its behavior.
This event underscores a broader issue of human-elephant conflict in Thailand. Since 2012, over 220 people have been killed by wild elephants. The wild elephant population in Thailand has significantly increased, prompting measures such as contraceptive vaccinations for female elephants to manage their numbers.
