Elephant Rampage Kills Monk

[Tony Clifton]

The elephants could well have been in musth, a hormonal change when they become unpredictable and dangerous:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant#Musth.

Saw footage of the elephant shown above.

Both sides of his head clearly had wet streaks from that secretion that runs down their faces and into their mouth when they get horny.

[sriracha john]

Evacuating one of the monks:

Thai Rath

[sriracha john]

In the other elephant rampage of the OP... the pachyderm was dealt with by "street justice"...

Elephant Killed after Rampage

A veterinarian in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province revealed that the male elephant that went on a rampage and injured two locals yesterday has been shot and killed.

Pornpirom Fungtrakul, a veterinarian of the Southern Friends of the Elephant Foundation, revealed that Kai Hid, the male elephant that went on a rampage in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province yesterday and injured two locals, was shot by locals late last night.

Its body has been brought home to Pipoon District by its owner.

The owner of the elephant revealed that he chained the beast a couple of days ago as it was restless upon entering the mating season. However, the elephant broke the chain and went on a rampage.

The veterinarian said the foundation will try to prevent such a tragedy from happening again by informing locals and elephant owners about elephant behavior during the mating season and educating them on how to prevent them from going into a rage.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

'Kind' elephant becomes victim of firepower

Plai Khai Heed, an elephant that injured a villager in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Phrom Khiri district on Wednesday, died yesterday from multiple gunshot wounds, prompting criticism of the villagers' excessive use of firearms.

Meanwhile the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department warned the public to be cautious when travelling through Tab Lan, Khao Yai, Khao Ang Reu Nai, Kaeng Krajan and Kui Buri national parks, where they were likely to encounter wild elephants.

When Plai Khai Heed crossed over from Phibun district to Tambon Thon Hong in Phrom Khiri district and injured rubber-tapper Thavorn Ratchakijja, 45, villagers shot at it until it fled into a nearby forest.

The next morning, the injured pachyderm emerged, and some villagers, mostly teenagers, reportedly fired at it again before Khanom district veterinarian Pornpirom Fungtrakul, a volunteer with Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, hit it with a tranquilliser dart.

A village elder, who asked not to be named, said that despite the veterinarian's plea for them to stop, many people on motorcycles chased the beast, making it even angrier. He said he had then heard 10 gunshots as if the villagers were "trying out their fire power."

He said the elephant had been born in the area and was now aged 51. Before being bought by current owner Surin Bangsakul, 57, the elephant was said to be a kind and intelligent animal.

The elder said even though the animal was angry and in heat, it still felt this area was its home and that was why it kept coming back. "I can't believe that Plai Khai Heed came back to be killed at hands of the locals," he said.

Surin went to collect his animal on Thursday night, but it died later while being transported. Surin said he had filed a report with the police that his elephant had succumbed to gunshot wounds. It will be buried at his home and the tusks saved for sentimental reasons.

Veterinarian Pornpirom said an initial examination showed the beast had died from internal bleeding.

Following a previous elephant attack that killed a Buddhist monk on pilgrimage near Nakhon Ratchasima's Tab Lan National Park, Samart Sumanojitraporn, Director of the Wildlife Protection Office, said monks had been warned to notify the office before entering national parks to prevent such attacks.

During this dry season, wild animals have been gathering near sources of water and the foothills, thus encountering monks and visitors. He warned visitors to stay clear of the elephants because it was the mating season, when they could be dangerous.

- The Nation

[Galong]

'Kind' elephant becomes victim of firepower

A village elder, who asked not to be named, said that despite the veterinarian's plea for them to stop, many people on motorcycles chased the beast, making it even angrier. He said he had then heard 10 gunshots as if the villagers were "trying out their fire power."

The Nation

Stupid Third World barbarians!!! I'm not surprised by this. A gang of Thais assaulting an elephant is in keeping with their macho image of multiple attackers on a single victim.

I guess elephants are supposed to change their very nature to get along with villagers who don't have the sense to stay out of the jungle when the breeding season begins.

[seonai]

Elephants are one of the only animals to have a sense of 'self'

Wonderful, intelligent and thoughtful beasts...

[Interman]

Thais have a horrible problem with revenge. Or Paybak.

These people most likely worship elephants,(light insence, bow to a figure of elepehant)

but when it kills a monk, no mercy ! I wonder how they think this will effect thier karma/gifts from statues?

In my opinion, it is well known to be careful of these big animals, but the monks probably thought they could meditate the animals away. I think a little common sence could have prevented this.

[globez]

Is Thailand amazed again???

Maybe we should build more roads through national parks, build more resorts with a big ass golf courses, etc. Those animals shouldn't be blamed for accidents like these! There is just not enough space leftover for wildlife without coming in contact with humans all the time...

It's just another sad story and I'm sure it won't be the last!

[BigSnake]

Rest in Peace my friends.

[gunnyd]

Being Buddhist monks they will get their karmic reward. They should not be mourned, but celebrated as they are going to a better life in their beliefs.

They should be more like the Irish, and their wakes. Being that they believe that their relatives are in a better place so they celebrate instead of going around in mourning.

And shooting the elephants? I was under the impression that devout Buddhists would be against that sort of thing.

[mrwallet]

I'm not sure about the full moon affecting the elephants but it surely affects farangs arriving at the airports during mating season. I was nearly trampled by a large group of Germans once at Don Muang. Well I'm not entirely sure they were Germans, just guessing. They can be very aggressive during that time.

[leebeeUK]

At the end of the day, people should not even be mixing with these animals.

The elephants are naturally wild and have to be 'broken' to be forced to act anything otherwise (ie taken from their mothers as virtual new-borns) as are all the mothers and babies we see led around the streets. Most Thais I've met hate to see this spectacle and turn their backs when the guys come to the bars waving bananas for the baby which they won't give unless someone pays for, hopefully also having their picture taken and throwing in a few more baht for the novelty... And, of course, too many easily awe-struck young farangs leap from their beers and cocktails to pose in the busy soi's, to a backdrop of streetlights, scooters and other farangs, with these 'wild' creatures...

I understand historically the Thais have always used elephants for working and even for charging to war upon and that's just the way it is but a lot is now being done to protect them. I realise, also, that tourism has become a big part of this, the idea being to 'show' some elephants to generate funds so that the others can be looked after, fed and protected. Nevertheless, people and wild animals just don't mix. Besides those in the street, which I just 'blank', seeing the sad gait of both mother and baby, I have encountered elephants twice, once in Ayutthaya at a show where some young ones were made to 'dance' grotesquely for the cheering kids and once on an elephant trek where the BIG one who's neck it was decreed I should be seated upon just decided to go off-track and make his own route through the jungle, stressed as I'd run out of bags of bananas!! Took some cajoling too, and my relieved removal(!) to fall back into line!! Not fun!!!

I like to feel I now know better and probably really should have done before. Wild is wild and - just to mention another such animal - remember the bears and the Canadian guy? The truly well-meaning young film-maker, who loved 'his' wild grizzlies so much he actually thought he could hang out with them and live as one of them?... and he did, until they got short of food and probably frustrated by his presence... and killed and ate him and his girl-friend, where they slept in their tent 'at one with nature'!! So, admire and wonder, and I'm sure like me, many of us are extremely happy to know there are people running elephant 'orphanages'... we just shouldn't be surprised at what these creatures might do given reason, opportunity or maybe even just a simple impulse...

Edited February 26, 2008 by leebeeUK