Elephant Panics at Fireworks Display, Injures Several at Fair

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture captured from video.

 

An elephant startled by fireworks at a fair in Nong Bua Lamphu, caused chaos on the event’s opening night, injuring five people as it ran through the crowd. The incident occurred on the evening of January 18 during the annual tribute event to King Naresuan the Great.

 

Witnesses reported that the elephant became agitated as fireworks were launched and fire crackers set off, during the opening ceremony. In its panic, the animal ran through the fairgrounds, knocking over attendees and causing injuries. Emergency responders transported the five injured individuals to Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital for treatment.

 

One of the injured, 51-year-old Yananee, a local resident of Na Klang District, recounted the terrifying moment. “I was walking with my family and carrying my grandchild when I heard people screaming. I turned around and saw a large elephant running towards me. I couldn’t move in time and was knocked over, injuring my ankle. Luckily, my grandchild was unharmed,” she said. Yananee and other injured attendees have since filed complaints with the local police.

 

The elephant, brought to the fair by its handler, 46-year-old Mr. Sanga from Surin Province, was part of a common practice where elephants are paraded at events to interact with the public and sell sugarcane. Mr. Sanga explained, “I brought the elephant to the event to earn a living. When the fireworks started, the animal got scared and ran. I tried to calm it down by pulling on its ears, but it didn’t stop.”

Footage of the incident, showing the elephant charging through the crowd and trampling adults and children, quickly spread on social media, with users sharing their shock and concern.

 

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine responsibility and ensure safety measures are implemented for future events. The fair is an annual tradition in Nong Bua Lamphu, but this year’s festivities have been overshadowed by the unfortunate incident.

 

-- 2025-01-19

 

 

[watchcat]

Fireworks!!!

[JimHuaHin]

Stupidity.

[MikeandDow]

Do Thais not learn !!! Elephants are wild animals, they can not be controlled by pulling on its ears !! this is just absolutely  stupid !!

[KhunBENQ]

Idiots and their fireworks.

A global pest.

 

[Dave0206]

Elephant and fireworks what could go wrong 🤔 

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The elephant, brought to the fair by its handler, 46-year-old Mr. Sanga from Surin Province, was part of a common practice where elephants are paraded at events to interact with the public and sell sugarcane. Mr. Sanga explained, “I brought the elephant to the event to earn a living. When the fireworks started, the animal got scared and ran. I tried to calm it down by pulling on its ears, but it didn’t stop.”

Performing monkeys were banned, why not elephants... 

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Idiots and their fireworks.

A global pest.

 

People and their pet elephants

[baansgr]

But it's an ethical elephant

[kwaussie]

Several incidents recently with elephants, time they were banned from festivals.

[newbee2022]

On 1/19/2025 at 5:44 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture captured from video.

 

An elephant startled by fireworks at a fair in Nong Bua Lamphu, caused chaos on the event’s opening night, injuring five people as it ran through the crowd. The incident occurred on the evening of January 18 during the annual tribute event to King Naresuan the Great.

 

Witnesses reported that the elephant became agitated as fireworks were launched and fire crackers set off, during the opening ceremony. In its panic, the animal ran through the fairgrounds, knocking over attendees and causing injuries. Emergency responders transported the five injured individuals to Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital for treatment.

 

 

One of the injured, 51-year-old Yananee, a local resident of Na Klang District, recounted the terrifying moment. “I was walking with my family and carrying my grandchild when I heard people screaming. I turned around and saw a large elephant running towards me. I couldn’t move in time and was knocked over, injuring my ankle. Luckily, my grandchild was unharmed,” she said. Yananee and other injured attendees have since filed complaints with the local police.

 

The elephant, brought to the fair by its handler, 46-year-old Mr. Sanga from Surin Province, was part of a common practice where elephants are paraded at events to interact with the public and sell sugarcane. Mr. Sanga explained, “I brought the elephant to the event to earn a living. When the fireworks started, the animal got scared and ran. I tried to calm it down by pulling on its ears, but it didn’t stop.”

Footage of the incident, showing the elephant charging through the crowd and trampling adults and children, quickly spread on social media, with users sharing their shock and concern.

 

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine responsibility and ensure safety measures are implemented for future events. The fair is an annual tradition in Nong Bua Lamphu, but this year’s festivities have been overshadowed by the unfortunate incident.

 

-- 2025-01-19

 

 

Brain failure by responsible authorities 

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, kwaussie said:

Several incidents recently with elephants, time they were banned from festivals.

 

Or ban festivals with fireworks.

[outsider]

On 1/19/2025 at 6:44 AM, Georgealbert said:

users sharing their shock and concern.

 

Shocked? When will you all smarten up and learn that elephants belong in their own habitat - in the wild, and not in fairgrounds or in parks to entertain you lot?

[Yagoda]

21 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Do Thais not learn !!! Elephants are wild animals, they can not be controlled by pulling on its ears !! this is just absolutely  stupid !!

How do you know? Have you ever worked with elephants?

[Thingamabob]

The poor elephant was obviously terrified. Whoever brought it to such an event should be jailed. I continue to be both amazed and depressed by the way so many animals are cruelly treated in Buddhist Thailand.

[parallelman]

Many animals are 'spooked' by fireworks, particularly those rockets that end with a loud bang. Why didn't thay at least wait until the fireworks have finished then bring the elephant orperhaps escort the elephant away from the area before the fireworks?

Close to where I live the temple often use such rockets and the other night I thought WWIII had started.

[MikeandDow]

56 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

How do you know? Have you ever worked with elephants?

I can read !! "the animal got scared and ran. I tried to calm it down by pulling on its ears, but it didn’t stop.”  maybe if you got your ears pulled to might stop posting rubbish!!!  they are wild animals !!

[Yagoda]

59 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

I can read !! "the animal got scared and ran. I tried to calm it down by pulling on its ears, but it didn’t stop.”  maybe if you got your ears pulled to might stop posting rubbish!!!  they are wild animals !!

Translation: I have never worked with elephants and dont understand the process of domestication and training.

 

All animals have wild instincts., even you.

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Translation: I have never worked with elephants and dont understand the process of domestication and training.

 

All animals have wild instincts., even you.

Think you need to look up the word domestication and its meaning !!!

Elephants are not and have never been domesticated

Elephants require brutal training to accept human contact. Even then, they retain their natural instincts which are meant for the wild.

[black tabby12345]

Elephants are gentle and intelligent (even able to draw a picture if trained).

But very timid at the same time.

So scaring(provoking)  them is extremely dangerous.

 

When they feel threatened, they often start to gallop suddenly as if they went mad.

Fully grown-up adults often weigh 3-4 tons.

 

Imagine the full speed charge of the WW2 Brengun Carrier into the crowd.

Rather lucky there was just one there.

What if they were in hordes...?

 

 

[ignore it]

"Honey, do you think we should take Jumbo to the fireworks tonight?"

 

"Sure Sanga what could go wrong."

[steven100]

On 1/19/2025 at 5:44 AM, Georgealbert said:

I tried to calm it down by pulling on its ears

 

yes ... that usually does it 

[Justanotherone]

imagine being there on a holiday and you get trampled to death by some dude that was allowed in with an elephant...

[Yagoda]

32 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Think you need to look up the word domestication and its meaning !!!

Elephants are not and have never been domesticated

Elephants require brutal training to accept human contact. Even then, they retain their natural instincts which are meant for the wild.

Have you ever trained an elephant? Have you ever seen an elephant outside a Disney movie? Is there a difference between a trained elephant or a trained dolphin or chimpanzee? Are some animals totally untrainable? Are cats domesticated?

 

Stop with the Instagram sloganeering and PETA posturing. You do a disservice to those of us who seek to ensure proper human-elephant interaction.

[phetphet]

How stupid. The idiot taking an elephant to a crowded, noisy fair,

 

If the person who let off the firework knew the elephant was there, then double stupid. Although it seems that the fireworks were planned.

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

Have you ever trained an elephant? Have you ever seen an elephant outside a Disney movie? Is there a difference between a trained elephant or a trained dolphin or chimpanzee? Are some animals totally untrainable? Are cats domesticated?

 

Stop with the Instagram sloganeering and PETA posturing. You do a disservice to those of us who seek to ensure proper human-elephant interaction.

If you are asking theses questions I can refer you to google it is easy to use !!

"You do a disservice to those of us who seek to ensure proper human-elephant interaction." and you dont know the meaning of "domesticated " good luck on ensure proper human-elephant interaction, you have, no clue.

[metisdead]

Livestock development officials caught up with the elephant and the mahout a few kilometres from the fair venue. The mahout said he had not sought permission to enter the fair or move the elephant from its home province of Surin to Nong Bua Lam Phu.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2942891/frightened-elephant-tramples-on-fair-visitors-in-ne-thailand?tbref=hp.

[MikeandDow]

17 minutes ago, metisdead said:

Livestock development officials caught up with the elephant and the mahout a few kilometres from the fair venue. The mahout said he had not sought permission to enter the fair or move the elephant from its home province of Surin to Nong Bua Lam Phu.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2942891/frightened-elephant-tramples-on-fair-visitors-in-ne-thailand?tbref=hp.

Correct, and the fine for this MAX 1year prison or 20,000baht  wonder what it will be, if he is ever charged that is !

[Yagoda]

20 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

If you are asking theses questions I can refer you to google it is easy to use !!

"You do a disservice to those of us who seek to ensure proper human-elephant interaction." and you dont know the meaning of "domesticated " good luck on ensure proper human-elephant interaction, you have, no clue.

translation: I know nothing about the subject matter.

[Jonathan Swift]

On 1/19/2025 at 10:21 AM, MikeandDow said:

Do Thais not learn !!! Elephants are wild animals, they can not be controlled by pulling on its ears !! this is just absolutely  stupid !!

Elephants are trained to respond to the touching of their ears, it's like pulling on the reins of a horse. So what was done was actually a sensible attempt to calm it down.