Terrifying Moment! Parents and Children Inches from Death Under Elephant’s Belly

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Daily News via Facebook " Pom Aum Mobile "

 

In a nerve-wracking incident, parents taking children through an elephant's legs as part of a ritual for good fortune narrowly avoided tragedy when the elephant became agitated and unpredictable.

 

The incident, captured by CCTV and later posted on Facebook by user "Pom Aummobile", aims to serve as a cautionary tale. The footage shows an elephant handler leading children under the elephant's belly – a cultural tradition believed to bring luck and safety.

 

Picture courtesy: Daily News via Facebook " Pom Aum Mobile "

 

However, the situation took a dangerous turn as the elephant unexpectedly panicked. The handler carrying the first child was viciously kicked, narrowly escaping being trampled.

 

The Facebook post, dated 6th January, emphasised the need for awareness around such practices: "This is not to disrespect beliefs, but to show how a belief nearly cost lives. Watch this close-call moment where a child's life was at risk. The elephant kicked with such force, it was a terrifying split-second!"

Following the video’s release, social media users overwhelmingly expressed concern over the dangers associated with this practice.

 

Many noted the irresponsibility of subjecting children to such risks, pointing out that instead of bringing safety and fortune, the ritual could lead to disaster. Fortunately, the on-elephant handler managed to calm the animal just in time, preventing any fatalities.

 

 

-- 2025-01-06

 

 

[JoePai]

What a stupid thing to do !

[Tropicalevo]

Sadly, that is not the dumbest thing that I have seen.

My late wife loved elephants and anything to do with them. 🐘

She adopted some in Kenya.

I had to travel to Sri Lanka regularly and she would always accompany me.

Elephants.

We were travelling around the country one day and she saw an elephant sanctuary - stop here!

The handlers asked my wife if she wanted a massage - by an elephant.

NO! I said. YES she said and she lay on the floor.

Elephant walked up to her and rubbed her stomach with its foot.

That was it thank God.

We had quite a long discussion after that one.

[MikeandDow]

Thais have No concept of what is safe and what is Not!!  just dumb and dummer !!!! Elephants are wild animals

[ignore it]

I'd go with:

 

See. it works. 

 

Lucky not to get stomped.

[Sydebolle]

Unbelievable, many Thais have not realized, that this is no longer Stone Age but 21st century; same with tiger parks, crocodile farms and other wildlife experiences. 

Only once a few people are being trampled to death they might realize, that it is not a normal thing for an elephant to let anyone underpass the pachyderm's belly which is vulnerable and the elephant can't see, what is going on down there ........

[fredwiggy]

Seeing that a few hundred people are killed yearly, many by having the elephant stomping on them, this is surely showing just how little you care for your children.

[Wrwest]

I have done this but ... it was an elephant state at the Golden Triangle Wat.

[RJRS1301]

It ois not only dumb, it is plain stupid

Elephants even when domesticated are essentially wild animals and as such need to be given respect

No doubt the lame brained parents will see this as a sign of luck and safety

Stupid as believing in a virgin birth 

Resurrection

 

 

[SportRider]

Honestly I prefer to see working Elephants just going about their business. 

 

I took this pic last week just outside Pattaya. 

 

Love the way the rider is on his phone... what a combination of old and new. 

[MalcolmB]

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

Yes, but there's quite a bit more protection in a car than under an animal that can weigh up to 11,000 kilos that is unpredictable. Is this just another troll post or are you serious? If you are, please seek help.

Asian elephants do not get close to 11,000 kgs Fred.

Please keep it factual.

[fredwiggy]

Just now, MalcolmB said:

Asian elephants do not get close to 11,000 kgs Fred.

Please keep it factual.

Did I say an Asian elephant got that big? If you want facts, here it is. Asian elephants can weigh over 6000 kilos, and they kill people every year here.

[Cabradelmar]

An activity that is suppose to bring good fortune turns into near disaster... shouldn't that tell you (Thaiz) something about that activity 🤔... Thais and their superstitions... 

[Funkymover]

what idiot comes up with these money making rituals ,, 

[roo860]

They seem to outdo themselves for daftness every day, watching the Thai News every morning confirms this, my wife,(Thai) shakes her head at the things they get up to, let's face it what could go wrong taking a kid under an elephants belly?🤔🤔🤔

[zepplin]

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

What a stupid thing to do !

Thais will exploit any animal for money regardless of the risks, fact!

[Spock]

1 minute ago, zepplin said:

Thais will exploit any animal for money regardless of the risks, fact!

They are at least far less exploitative of animals than the Chinese.

[Chongalulu]

18 minutes ago, Funkymover said:

what idiot comes up with these money making rituals ,, 

The ones who know there are even bigger idiots willing to endanger themselves to make them that money…

[richard_smith237]

48 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

51 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Why use 11,000 kg number then?
Cars kill people everyday. 

Cars don't kill people, elephants do. People who drive haphazardly in cars kill people. Especially those who drive drunk and think they are doing okay. Elephants attack people every week somewhere and kill hundreds of people yearly because they are either mistreated, are approached hunting, poaching or out of curiosity and attack to defend themselves and or their young. They also attack for no reason besides territory.

 

Transport is a necessity...   

Walking under and elephant is idiocy... it's not in the least bit surprising that Malcy merges those boundaries. 

[Chongalulu]

In further developments the family went on to thank the spirits for  saving them by participating in the "put your kids head in the tiger’s mouth for luck" and the "kiss a king cobra for good health " ceremonies. Sadly it was recklessly followed by an irresponsible ride home in a Thai drivers mini van ….

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

26 minutes ago, Funkymover said:

what idiot comes up with these money making rituals ,, 

I'd say a very clever entrepreneur.

 

But you can't fix stupid.

 

Ka-CHING!!!   $$$$

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Thais have No concept of what is safe and what is Not!!  just dumb and dummer !!!! Elephants are wild animals

 

'Dumb' would be to make the sweeping generalisation you just have... 

 

Particularly in light of this thread which is also concurrently running...

 

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The incident, captured by CCTV and later posted on Facebook by user "Pom Aummobile", aims to serve as a cautionary tale. The footage shows an elephant handler leading children under the elephant's belly – a cultural tradition believed to bring luck and safety

Elephants used purely for income... sick

[kwaussie]

The mother sure rolled out of the way pretty quick, should be one lesson she will never forget.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Thais have No concept of what is safe and what is Not!!  just dumb and dummer !!!! Elephants are wild animals

A ridiculous thong to do but this elephant is not a wild elephant, it is domesticated.

[Rimmer]

Off topic post about cars / troll posts and replies also a flame have been removed

[SABloke]

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

More people die in motor vehicle accidents.

Do you let you kids go in cars?

 

 

This is a dumb comparison - total false equivalency.  A better comparison would be the following: would you rather A) put a child in a car X amount of times (like many do every year), or B) let a child crawl under an elephant X amount of times? My kids have been in cars thousands of times, but I wouldn't let them under an elephant once (let alone thousands of times). Why - because the one interaction carries way more short-term inherent danger to my children due to the size and strength of an elephant.

[Airalee]

40 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

A ridiculous thong to do but this elephant is not a wild elephant, it is domesticated.

I’ll go with what an expert has to say.

 

Dan Albert John Koehl is a French-Swedish zookeeper, elephant trainer, and stablemaster.^[1] An author of the Elephant Encyclopedia, he has been described as "one of Europe's most renowned experts on elephants".
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Koehl

 

 

[MikeandDow]

46 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

A ridiculous thong to do but this elephant is not a wild elephant, it is domesticated.

You need to do your research before posting rubbish like this other posters do

[Airalee]

9 minutes ago, Airalee said:

I’ll go with what an expert has to say.

 

Dan Albert John Koehl is a French-Swedish zookeeper, elephant trainer, and stablemaster.^[1] An author of the Elephant Encyclopedia, he has been described as "one of Europe's most renowned experts on elephants".
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Koehl

 

 

I’m not sure why I received a “sad” emoji.  Let’s see what other experts have said.

 

https://www.elephantvoices.org/phocadownload/Joyce_Poole_redacted_expert_report_Ringling.pdf