Chachoengsao: A wild elephant attacked a 52-year-old villager in a rubber plantation, resulting in the man's death on his way to the hospital.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred behind Ban Koh Loi in Khlong Takrao Subdistrict, Tha Takieb District, at around 3 a.m. The victim, identified as Mr. Theddet, suffered a fractured skull and broken ribs during the attack. Rescue volunteers from Phanom Tha Takieb and local police rushed him to Tha Takieb Hospital, from where he was transferred to Phutthasothon Hospital for further treatment.
Mr. Sommai Chinnahong, head of the volunteer team monitoring wild elephants, along with conservation officers and local authorities, investigated the scene. They found evidence that the elephant had attacked and dragged the villager against a rubber tree. Officials suspect the elephant might have been in musth due to the mating season. CCTV footage from a nearby house captured the elephant causing damage as it moved through the area.
Village headman Sarot extended support to Mr. Theddet's family, providing financial aid for funeral rites, as the family faces financial difficulties. Efforts are being made to secure government benefits for the family due to the fatal attack.
In Trat Province, wild elephants have been foraging in multiple areas across Bo Rai District. Volunteers and national park officials have been deployed to ensure the safety of local rubber farmers, who have altered their schedules to avoid encounters with the elephants. The presence of elephants has been reported in several rubber plantations and orchards due to the favorable conditions for rubber yields during the late rainy season and early winter. Despite the risks, farmers continue their work, with sightings of small elephant herds foraging in the area.