Wild Elephant Kills One, Injures Three in Sa Kaeo Forest Attack

Pictures courtesy of Naewna

A wild elephant has killed one villager and left three others seriously injured after attacking a group of eucalyptus loggers in Moo 9, Phra Prong subdistrict, Sa Kaeo, early on 23 November 2025. Six residents had gone into a community forest plantation to cut eucalyptus when the elephant suddenly entered the plot and charged at them as they paused for breakfast. Three workers were critically injured while others fled and alerted local leaders for urgent assistance.

The attack occurred at around 06.30 when a group, all hired labourers from Moo 9, were resting in the plantation. The victims included Mrs La-iad, who suffered a punctured lung and a broken leg and was sent to Somdej Phra Yupparat Sa Kaeo Hospital, along with Mr Somphan and Mrs Uraiwan, who managed to escape minor injuries. Villager Sanan Duangsoongnoen, who witnessed the incident, described the chaos and said workers had fled in all directions.

Local leaders and village security volunteers quickly mobilised a response, dispatching teams on pickup trucks and motorcycles to search the surrounding forest. Drones were deployed to track the elephant’s likely escape route and prevent further harm or danger to residents. During the search, officials found a motorbike with a sidecar abandoned in a rubber plantation, prompting a wider ground sweep to locate its owner.

Shortly afterwards, search teams discovered the body of Mr Thanom Sirison at the back of the rubber plantation, not far from the abandoned vehicle. The scene showed clear elephant footprints and signs of trampling, indicating he had been attacked and killed while working alone applying acid to rubber trees that morning. Villagers believe the same elephant responsible for the earlier eucalyptus attack also killed Mr Thanom.

Following the discovery, community leaders notified administrative officials, the Tambon Administrative Organisation, national park rangers, rescue units and police to inspect the area, collect evidence and arrange the removal of the body. Authorities also warned residents in Moo 9 and nearby villages to avoid forest and rubber plantations during early morning and evening hours due to ongoing elephant movements. The incident has caused shock and fear among villagers, who regularly face wild elephant intrusions during the dry season when natural food sources are scarce.

Naewna reported that officials are continuing surveillance in the affected areas and plan to maintain heightened patrols to monitor elephant activity. Coordination between local authorities, forest officials and residents is expected to increase in the coming days to prevent further encounters. Further assessments will determine whether additional safety measures or wildlife management interventions are required.

Key Takeaways

• A wild elephant attacked loggers in Sa Kaeo, injuring three.

• Local leaders launched ground and drone searches, later finding another victim dead.

• Authorities have issued safety warnings as elephant movements remain active.

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 Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Naewna 2025-11-24