Connect with us

Northern Thailand

Tourists Rescued in Chiang Mai after Elephant Kills Mahout and Takes off into the Jungle

Avatar of CTN News

Published

on

An elephant watching tourists from behind the fence in Chang Mai

An elephant watching tourists from behind the fence in Chang Mai

.

.

CHIANG MAI – Offiicials in Chiang Mai are assisting a Chinese family recover after a terrifying ordeal after an elephant, gored his mahout to death and then tore off into the jungle with them still on his back, on Wednesday.

The frightened tourists, Chinese tourists were rescued by another mahout who went into the forest to find them.

The incident caused panic among tourists visiting a popular elephant camp in Mae Wang district, the Bangkok Post reported.

Three members of a Chinese family rescued and safe after a male elephant ran amok Photo by Cheewin Sattha Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/669584/terrified-tourists-rescued-from-killer-jumbo. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Post Publishing PCL. All rights reserved.

Three members of a Chinese family rescued and safe after a male elephant ran amok -Photo by Cheewin Sattha

Police called to the scene found the lifeless body of the Karen mahout, identified later as Surachai Daengphumpak, beside the Mae Wang stream near Phutawan elephant camp in tambon Mae Win of Mae Wang district.

The 40-year-old mahout had been gored in the neck and left side of his chest, police said.

The elephant, 30-year-old Plai Somjai, had fled into a jungle after killing the mahout with the three tourists still on his back.

Police said the tourists were part of a Chinese tour group that visited to camp to take elephant rides.

The father, mother and child were being taken for a ride in the stream when the elephant became frenzied, trying to throw the tourists from its back. The mahout, Surachai, tried to control him, but  the elephant attacked him, goring him to the ground with his tusks in a full view of tourists.

After the attack, the bull fled into the jungle, with the horrified Chinese family still on its back.

Authorities closed down the camp. Livestock officers and veterinarians were sent to search for the missing elephants and rescue the tourists.

The three Chinese tourists were rescued and were safe, but very upset after their ordeal.

The tourists were rescued after Phutawan elephant camp sent another mahout, known as ‘’Kwan Klui’’,  who used to take care of Plai Somjai, to calm the animal down.

The mahout went into the jungle riding a female elephant about noon and found Plai Somjai around one kilometre from Mae Wang stream.  It took him an hour to calm the agitated elephant, and finally ride him back to camp.

The rescued tourists were reported to be safe, but traumatised.

By Cheewin Sattha

Continue Reading

CTN News App

CTN News App

Recent News

BUY FC 24 COINS

compras monedas fc 24

Volunteering at Soi Dog

Find a Job

Jooble jobs

Free ibomma Movies