In a tragic incident, a grandfather in central Thailand lost his life after being fatally trampled by a wild elephant that had strayed into his garden in search of food. Noi Songkroh, 79, was checking on his vegetables when he discovered the large animal feasting on a banana plant in his garden. The encounter took a deadly turn as the elephant charged at Noi with lethal consequences.
Residents in the Prachinburi province witnessed the horrifying attack and promptly alerted wildlife officials for assistance. Authorities arrived at the scene around 1 am and discovered Noi’s body submerged in the mud. The investigation revealed that the elephant had passed several homes before being lured by the bananas in Noi’s garden.
Following the tragic incident, the family, led by Noi’s son Pichet Songkroh, is making funeral arrangements. They are now urging authorities to take proactive measures to prevent further incidents of wild elephants entering their village, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures for villagers.
This unfortunate event is not an isolated case in Thailand, as similar incidents involving wild elephants have occurred in the past. With an estimated 4,000 to 4,400 wild elephants in Thailand, encounters leading to attacks are a known risk, albeit with a declining trend due to their endangered status.
Human Elephant Voices highlighted that human-elephant conflicts stem from habitat loss, agricultural encroachment, and resultant changes in elephant behavior, leading to casualties and property damage, especially to farmers’ crops. Over the past few years, there have been numerous incidents of human-elephant conflict in Thailand, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
The decline in the Thai elephant population from an estimated 300,000 in the early 20th century to the current numbers is attributed to habitat destruction, poaching, and human conflicts. Efforts are needed to address the root causes of human-elephant conflicts and ensure the coexistence of both species in a sustainable manner.
