Fatal elephant attack in Nakhon Nayok prompts tighter patrols

Natural Parks and Wildlife officials have been instructed to tighten surveillance of wild elephants that may stray near communities after one fatally attacked a man near his house in Nakhon Nayok province yesterday.

Athapol Charoenchansa, director general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, also ordered officials to coordinate with relevant agencies to assist the victim’s family.

“Officials have been instructed to increase patrols and closely monitor any wild elephants that may approach nearby communities in order to prevent similar incidents,” Attapol said.

The victim was identified as Heng Sae-o, 87, who was attacked by a wild elephant at about 9pm yesterday at his home in Village 3 of Sarika subdistrict in Muang district.

Upon being alerted to the attack, officials from Khao Yai National Park Management Unit 6 and a rapid response team responsible for monitoring and pushing back wild elephants arrived at the scene.

The elephant that attacked Heng is believed to have recently separated from its herd. Heng sustained injuries to the head and body as well as an open wound on his right leg.

He was still conscious when officials and rescue workers from Sarika subdistrict took him to Nakhon Nayok Hospital for treatment, but the hospital later reported that Heng succumbed to his injuries at 11.47pm the same night.