Park volunteer dies in suspected elephant attack in Kui Buri National Park

A park volunteer is believed to have been killed by a wild elephant while he was fixing a damaged elephant alert system in the Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on Wednesday.

The park’s chief, Bamrungrat Ploydum, said that he was informed, by the head of Ban Wang Sai village in Sam Roi Yot district, that a small group of villagers went into the park to install an elephant alert system and to fix a damaged one on Wednesday, but one of them, Sayam Kotcha, failed to return home and could not be contacted.

A search was launched immediately and, about an hour later, it is reported that Sayam’s body was found on the elephant trail with a broken right hand and several serious wounds on his body. The search team also found fresh elephant footprints and broken tree branches and trunks.

Bamrungrat said he thinks that Sayam was killed by an elephant, but his body has been taken to Sam Roi Yot District Hospital for autopsy.

He also said that the victim’s family will be compensated.

Kui Buri National Park is known to be Thailand’s best place to watch elephants and, with luck, to spot gaurs. It is rich in sandalwood trees and is the only place in Thailand where sandalwood can be harvested for the cremations of Royal Family members.