Pictures courtesy of Kaoded

 

Two men have been killed in separate wild elephant attacks in Khon Kaen and Loei provinces, prompting urgent orders from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for heightened monitoring and swift compensation for the victims’ families. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, expressed deep condolences over the incidents and instructed the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to take immediate action to assist those affected.

 

The first fatal attack occurred on 20 October 2025 at around 19:10, in the Samliang Forest near Ban Kut Nam Sai, Na Chum Saeng subdistrict, Phu Wiang district, Khon Kaen. The victim, identified only as Mr. Prasit, aged about 50, was fatally attacked by a wild elephant while DNP officers from Phu Wiang National Park were conducting monitoring and deterrent operations in the area, which lies outside a protected forest zone.

 

The second case took place in Loei province, where a man named Mr. Prasit, aged 62, was killed by a wild elephant outside the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary. Both incidents occurred within hours of each other, raising concerns about increased wild elephant movement and potential human-wildlife conflict across the northeastern region.

 

Upon receiving reports of the two deaths, Deputy Prime Minister Suchart directed Attapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the DNP, to provide immediate financial assistance under the DNP’s 2025 central budget for compensation related to wild elephant incidents. The department has been tasked with ensuring the families receive full support in accordance with established regulations.

 

In response, the DNP has ordered an intensified surveillance and deterrence operation in high-risk zones across both provinces. Local units have been instructed to deploy round-the-clock patrol teams and use modern equipment to track elephant movements and drive them safely back into forest conservation areas.

 

Authorities have also urged cooperation between park officials and community leaders to educate residents in vulnerable areas on safety practices and precautionary measures when encountering wild elephants. These awareness efforts aim to prevent further loss of life and reduce human-elephant conflicts in the region.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Two men were killed in separate wild elephant attacks in Khon Kaen and Loei on 20 October 2025.

• Deputy PM Suchart Chomklin ordered urgent compensation and tighter surveillance in high-risk areas.

• Local officials will work with communities to raise awareness and prevent future encounters.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-10-22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, the elephants, who have had their traditional feeding groups occupied by humans, are to blame.

 

Human are never at fault.

 

There is an inconvenient truth - elephants occupied the land that now constitutes Thailand hundreds of thousands of years before any humans set foot on this land.

There's only one solution: wipe out the elephants and build condos on the land they used to occupy.