Chinese tourists have been rescued after a male elephant ran amok, gored his attendant to death in Chiang Mai on Wednesday.
Three members of Chinese family were riding at the back of an elephant in Mae Wang district. The tourists were part of a Chinese tour group that visited the camp to take elephant rides. Unfortunately, the male elephant went out of control, gored his mahout to death, and then tore off into the jungle with the Chinese family members still on his back.
The visitors were taken for a ride in the stream when the elephant became frenzied, trying to throw the tourists from its back. The mahout tried to control the animal but the elephant attacked him, goring him to the ground with his tusks in a full view of tourists. After the attack, the elephant fled into the jungle, with the horrified Chinese family still on its back.
Chinese parents traveling with their child were rescued before they were shaken but unhurt. The elephant, 30 year-old Plai Somjai, ran into a forest after killing the mahout with three people still on his back. Authorities closed down the camp and Phutawan elephant camp sent another mahout into the forest to find them.
In addition, Livestock officers and veterinarians were sent to search for the missing elephant and rescue the tourists. The incident caused panic among tourists visiting a popular elephant camp.
The camp authorities informed police about the tragedy and police found the body of the Karen mahout at the scene, near Mae Wang stream in tambon Mae Win of Mae Wang district. The victim of the elephant’s rage identified as Surachai Daengphumpak, 40 year-old, was gored in the neck and left side of his chest, police said. IMAGE/bangkokpost
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