Elephant Crushed Handler to Death

PATTAYA: -- Elephant handler crushed to death

A 44 year old Elephant handler was crushed to death on Saturday morning as he prepared his Elephant for the days work at the Jomtien Elephant camp.

The Mahamut, originally from Surin province, was a well respected and experienced Elephant handler and at six in the morning was grooming his animal by taking it for a bath.

As the elephant washed and was hosed down so the man stepped into the concrete bathing area to give him a scrub down.

Full story: http://www.pattaya10...ndler-to-death/

--Pattaya 103 FM 2012-10-13

A very sad incident indeed particularly for someone who obviously cared very much about the elephant.

But it doesn't mean necessarily she reacted angrily?

Maybe the elephant inadvertently did this without realising the handler didn't have enough space to move?

Elephant Master crushed to death at Camp in Jomtien

PATTAYA:--An elephant master who had been caring for his 40 year old Elephant for 20 years died from a severe head trauma whilst bathing the elephant next to a concrete water tank.

Police and rescue workers were called to the Elephant and Monkey Camp located in the Na-Jomtien area on Saturday morning and inspected the body of Khun Ponthep aged 44. He sustained a crushed skull and his right ear had been torn from his head. There were no witnesses to the incident, however blood stains and pieces of human skin were noticed on the side of the 2,000kg female elephant, called Tongbai.

Fellow elephant masters confirmed the close relationship the victim had with his elephant over the 20 years but did suggest the victim may have been slung into the side of the concrete water tank or was possibly crushed as the elephant approached the tank. Monks were brought in to conduct a religious ceremony prior to the body of Khun Ponthep being removed from the elephant camp.

Full story:http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/63905/elephant-master-crushed-death-camp-jomtien/

-- Pattaya One 2012-10-13

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I doubt this was an act of violence. I hope the handlers see it the same way as elephants in Thailand should be on a protection order. There are only around 2,000 left.

sure looks accidental to me. sad turn of events to be killed doing something one loves to do.

The Thai press reported it as an accident and said the elephant was not showing any unusual or aggressive behaviour.

Is this the Tong Thai Elephant place?