Elephant hit by car in Khao Yai, only dignity hurt

By The Nation

 

 

An elephant was struck by a tourist’s car in Khao Yai National Park on New Year’s Eve, damaging the vehicle but leaving both human and pachyderm unhurt.

The collision occurred on Highway 3077 in Prachin Buri, the Protected Area Regional Office 1 reported on its Facebook page just after midnight on Tuesday.

 

 

Park officials had been patrolling the road and monitoring the movements of elephants so they could advise tourists on how to observe the wildlife safely.

 

Park chief Khanchit Srinoppawan said a herd of five elephants was observed at 7.50pm at the Kilometre 35 marker on Highway 3077. 

 

 

A car driven by Reungwuth Buranasuk, 56, struck a bull elephant, shattering a headlight and denting the front end, but veterinarian Pattarapol Manee-on said the animal was unhurt and returned to the forest. 

 

Reungwuth said the elephants appeared on the road so suddenly that he didn’t have time to brake.

 

Park officials had noted another herd, this one seven strong, on Highway 2090 less than an hour earlier.

 

Khao Yai National Park, a World Heritage site, spans Prachin Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok and Saraburi. 

 

Wild elephants are occasionally seen on the two highways cutting through the park and encounters with passing motorists become more common in high tourist season. 

 

Park officials erect warning signs and advise visitors to remain at least 30 metres from any elephants, to not take flash photos or honk the horn, and to flee if the elephants show signs of stress or anger, such as extending their ears and tails. 

 

Visitors are also warned not to speed, make loud noises or feed the animals.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30335200

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-02

To bad the elephant did not destroy the car. The elephants should be protected from tourist.

Can elephants read?

How do they know for sure the elephant is “unhurt”? 

14 minutes ago, Tchooptip said:

How do they know for sure the elephant is “unhurt”? 

Apparently he stopped by the vets clinic before returning to the forest.

24 minutes ago, poyai111 said:

Can elephants read?

Well they can read maps ... that's why they follow the highways and look at the km-markers , to know where they are , just like us.

18 hours ago, webfact said:

the animal was unhurt and returned to the forest

 

Fled the scene to avoid trunk driving charges, no doubt.

How about strict speed limits in those areas and inside national parks ?

I'm for strongly enforced speed limits all over Thailand. 90 kms for cars and motorcycles,

80 kms for buses, vans, trucks and pickups. 10 kms for elephants.

2 hours ago, Darcula said:

 

Fled the scene to avoid trunk driving charges, no doubt.

 

Trunk walking charges...

This shows just one aspect of how roads, paths or human routes of any kind through areas of wildlife pose a threat to the incumbent flora and fauna.

At present two very disturbing proposal are afoot - one through to the Burmese boarder and another from Mae Wong to Umphang. both would seriously disrupt wildlife in the region.

even unregulated paths left by trekkers pose a threat, roads totally fragment the environment.

Edited January 3, 20188 yr by Airbagwill