A 60-year-old man was fatally trampled by a wild elephant on the morning of August 31 in a rubber plantation in Khlong Phlu Subdistrict, Nong Yai District, Chonburi Province. The incident occurred around 7:30 AM, according to local authorities. The victim, Mr. Narong Panakul, was working in the plantation when the elephant attacked, leading to his death.
Police and rescue teams, including Deputy Inspector Pol. Lt. Prasat Amornpannapong from Nong Yai Police Station, were called to the scene. Upon arrival, they found Mr. Narong’s body lying amidst large elephant footprints, with multiple fractures indicating a brutal trampling. His body has since been transported to Nong Yai Hospital for autopsy, and will be released to his family for funeral rites.
The victim’s wife, Ms. Meekaew, aged 45, recounted the tragic event. She and her husband had been tapping rubber on opposite sides of the plantation that morning when she suddenly saw him running and yelling for help. A wild elephant was pursuing him. The elephant quickly overtook Mr. Narong, knocking him down and trampling him repeatedly. Ms. Meekaew, terrified and hiding in nearby grass, watched helplessly as the elephant lingered before finally leaving the area. By the time she reached her husband, he was already unresponsive. Other rubber tappers in the vicinity were called to assist, but it was too late.
In a separate incident earlier that day in Chanthaburi Province, a wild elephant also claimed the life of a local resident. At approximately 3:00 AM, Mr. Kittichai Rungphaiboonwong, head of Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park, received a report that a wild elephant had killed a 66-year-old man named Mr. Budda in Kaeng Hang Maeo District. The victim had reportedly been trying to locate the elephant near his home when it charged, hurling him several meters before fleeing. Local authorities have since issued warnings to residents, advising them to avoid outdoor activities, particularly rubber tapping, until the situation is under control.
Both incidents highlight the ongoing conflict between humans and wild elephants in rural Thailand, a growing issue as human settlements and agricultural areas encroach upon natural elephant habitats. In the aftermath, officials, including the Klong Hin Ploeng Village Elephant Surveillance Network, are closely monitoring the movement of the elephants involved, and are urging heightened caution among residents in affected areas.
