According to local authorities, a wild elephant from Khao Yai National Park (Thailand) killed a 69-year-old tourist at a park campsite in the early morning of February 2nd (local time), marking the third deadly attack involving the same male elephant.
The incident occurred at about 5:30 am at the campsite of the Khlong Pla Kang forest ranger station, in Wang Nam Khiao district.
The victim was identified as Mr. Jiratchai Jiraphatboonyathorn, residing in Lopburi province. He was camping in the area and went out for a morning walk when he encountered a wild male elephant named Plai Oi Wan, the elephant had strayed outside the park boundary.
According to officials, the elephant used its trunk to attack the victim and then trampled, causing him to die about 20m from the tent. Other campers who witnessed the incident said that they did not dare to leave the tent at that time for fear of being attacked.
Park rangers and Wang Nam Khiao station police then arrived at the scene and chased away the elephant. Doctors from Wang Nam Khiao Hospital and rescue forces examined the victim's body.
Khao Yai National Park officials said Plai Oi Wan was in heat and had previously caused 2 other deaths. This incident is the 3rd death attributed to the same elephant.
Police Colonel Weerapol Rabiappho, Chief of Police Station Wang Nam Khiao, said that functional forces will exchange with leaders of Khao Yai National Park to consider measures such as pushing the elephant away from residential areas or relocating it to manage behavior, warning that if not handled thoroughly, this situation could continue to endanger the community.
