Biker begs for life after Khao Yai elephants corner him (VIDEO)

[webfact]

Biker begs for life after Khao Yai elephants corner him (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A biker who was cornered by four wild elephants got off his motorcycle to wai the pachyderm family as he begged for his life at Khao Yai National Park.

A video posted online yesterday by Khao Yai News shows the biker trying to drive past a herd of elephants when suddenly, the largest one charges at him, followed by the rest of the herd.

Instead of sprinting into the bushes, the man stands next to his bike and wai the family of elephants to show his respect.

Netizens speculated the elephants were frightened by the sound of the motorbike, and they charged at the man to protect their babies.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/10/19/biker-begs-life-after-khao-yai-elephants-corner-him-video


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-10-19

[Briggsy]

I hope this idiot is charged with some offence. The Thai statute is packed with unenforced enactments. There must be something to charge him with.

[Artisi]

One very stupid but very lucky motor bike rider.

[ezzra]

He's very lucky to get out alive as the elephants were protecting their young ones there,

similar incident has ended up a lot worse than that.....

[DM07]

He waied the elephants to show his respect!?

You couldn't make this sh1t up...at least I couldn't!

[pedro01]

I hope this idiot is charged with some offence. The Thai statute is packed with unenforced enactments. There must be something to charge him with.

For what? Riding a motorcycle along a public highway?

[zaphod reborn]

This looks staged. The video is too high quality, too clear, and begins before the motorbike even encounters the elephants.

[FloridaExport]

This looks staged. The video is too high quality, too clear, and begins before the motorbike even encounters the elephants.

Not to mention the guy was wearing a motorcycle helmet.

But seriously, it isn't strange that someone would be filming a group of elephants on a road in Thailand, and lot's of Asians really like high quality cameras. I've seen people do plenty of insane stuff on motorcycles in Thailand. Trying to ride past a herd of wild elephants with babies in tow probably isn't on the top 10 of that list. I can see this being legit.

[Artisi]

This looks staged. The video is too high quality, too clear, and begins before the motorbike even encounters the elephants.

Drruuu, have you never heard of anyone filming a group of elephants they encounter on the highway when passing through an area like Khao Yai - No - you haven't -- well guess what -- have a good look and you might learn something.

[Just1Voice]

This looks staged. The video is too high quality, too clear, and begins before the motorbike even encounters the elephants.

Not so sure.

1 - The people in the car appeared to have stopped to observe the elephants.

2 - Dash cams today have remarkably clear definition.

3 - Those were wild elephants, NOT trained, so "staging" that would be damn near impossible.

[slipperylobster]

be warned....

this wai gesture does not always work ..in similar circumstances involving herds of huge, wild animals.

[webfact]

Khao Yai elephants spare the life of a motorcyclist

BANGKOK: -- A motorcyclist narrowly escaped death after angry elephants walking on the road in Khao Yai national park were annoyed by the sound of motorcycle and encircled him.

In a 1.36 second video clip posted on You Tube by “khao yai news” yesterday, the unidentified motorcyclist was seen “wai” the herd of eight adult and young elephants rushing to his fallen motorcycle by the roadside.

The angry elephants were heard groaning in anger at the surrounded man in black T shirt standing by the roadside with both of his palms putting together in a “wai” manner as if he was trying to ask for pardon from the angry jumbos in front of him.

Fortunately the elephants didn’t harm him, although groaning in anger, and later walked off.

According to Post Today, the poster of the clip by the name of “Eddie” said before the incident which happed at 5.30 pm yesterday, a group of four Big Bike motorcycles drove pass the area making loud noise from their engines.

This might be the reason the elephants were annoyed by the sound of the motorcycle as the road was also a path of the elephants.

When the motorcyclist happened to drive pass the area at the time of the elephants were also walking on the road, they were angry and then turned to surround him.

Fortunately the angry elephants did not turn ferocious and that the man was safe, Post Today reported.

Khao Yai national park chief Kanchit Srinoppawan said normally the mountain road from Khao Yai to Prachinburi is also the path of a herd of eight elephants wandering for food, particularly on the section from Haew Narok waterfall to Pa Tabaek cliff and at Kilometre Marker 32.

The park has arranged forestry officials to patrol along the route to ensure security for both elephants and motorists, he said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/khao-yai-elephants-spare-the-life-of-a-motorcyclist

-- Thai PBS 2015-10-19

[catterwell]

I think maybe he knew what he was doing. Had he tried to run up the hill, he would have likely be stomped on before getting very far. Perhaps best to appear passive and not a threat. I imagine park rangers encounter wild elephants frequently and have their own way of reacting. But experts will no doubt tell me I'm completely wrong. I live and learn!

[ratcatcher]

I hope this idiot is charged with some offence. The Thai statute is packed with unenforced enactments. There must be something to charge him with.

He has already been charged. By the elephants.

That alone is enough to remain with him for a few years. The headline gives a whole new meaning to "biker". I was expecting a beard, long hair, tattoos, sawn off jean jacket and a thumping Harley.

Goes to show just how intelligent these amazing creatures are. They warned him, didn't need to kill him.

Perfect.

[AGareth2]

lucky fella

[Seastallion]

He waied the elephants to show his respect!?

You couldn't make this sh1t up...at least I couldn't!

Well, it worked.

I wonder if wai'ing also works against sharks or tigers?

[ChrisY1]

This looks staged. The video is too high quality, too clear, and begins before the motorbike even encounters the elephants.

It is good quality unlike the usual blurred crap that most Thais post.....but pretty difficult to get a bunch of elephants to act this way.....buggered if I'de like to be this guy!

[spermwhale]

Why on earth would he try to pass them? These are wild animals. That he stops to wai them shows you the level of his intelligence. Like most people here, he is living in a cartoon world.

[Bluespunk]

Groaning in anger? That must be the noise I make when I read stupid shit like this.

[spermwhale]

I hope this idiot is charged with some offence. The Thai statute is packed with unenforced enactments. There must be something to charge him with.

He has already been charged. By the elephants.

That alone is enough to remain with him for a few years. The headline gives a whole new meaning to "biker". I was expecting a beard, long hair, tattoos, sawn off jean jacket and a thumping Harley.

Goes to show just how intelligent these amazing creatures are. They warned him, didn't need to kill him.

Perfect.

Need it shows that the level of intelligence by just one of these elephants is greater than the motorcyclist.

[pedro01]

Why on earth would he try to pass them? These are wild animals. That he stops to wai them shows you the level of his intelligence. Like most people here, he is living in a cartoon world.

It's a public highway - perhaps he had somewhere he needed to be.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

[Bluespunk]

I think maybe he knew what he was doing. Had he tried to run up the hill, he would have likely be stomped on before getting very far. Perhaps best to appear passive and not a threat. I imagine park rangers encounter wild elephants frequently and have their own way of reacting. But experts will no doubt tell me I'm completely wrong. I live and learn!

Then you are indeed unique.

[whatproblem]

Thais cannot wait for anything when on a motor vehicle

[ddavidovsky]

This road should be closed to through traffic.

[fruitman]

Why did coconuts count 4 elephants?

[wooloomooloo]

I think the guy actually did quite well and certainly wasn't reckless. He stopped on the brow of the hill at a safe distance at 21s in.

At 35s he's moved as the rest of the herd were coming up behind him and didn't have anywhere else to go.

Staying rooted to the spot definitely saved his life.

I've reviewed the OP's video half a dozen times now and note that he's been most respectful of the elephants space but it just wasn't his lucky day [or maybe it was].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrBqgCNLOjA

Edited October 19, 2015 by wooloomooloo

[vogie]

be warned....

this wai gesture does not always work ..in similar circumstances involving herds of huge, wild animals.

Wai not?

[freedom4life]

It seems strange...it was like he was hanging about looking and waiting for something...why? Just drive on by...this seems like it was staged. Again, why?

[EJK]

He made it worse stopping it shows competition

He should have kept going like the RTP

30 seconds later they forget

[jomcondo]

I bet his backside opened up like a trap door & wrecked his underwear.