A tragic incident unfolded in central Thailand as a 79-year-old man, Noi Songkroh, lost his life after being fatally trampled by a wild elephant that strayed into his garden in search of food. Noi discovered the massive animal feasting on a banana plant in his garden while inspecting his vegetables with a flashlight after sunset. Startled by the light, the elephant charged at him, leading to the fatal trampling.
On the night of September 25, neighbors in the Prachinburi province witnessed the harrowing attack and promptly alerted wildlife officials for assistance. Authorities arrived at the scene around 1 am and discovered Noi’s body buried in the mud. The elephant had passed several homes before targeting Noi’s garden, attracted solely by the bananas.
Following the tragedy, family members, including Noi’s son Pichet Songkroh, are making funeral arrangements. They are advocating for immediate measures to prevent further elephant intrusions into their village to ensure the safety of residents. Pichet emphasized the need for officials to act promptly to address the elephant issue and prevent future tragedies.
This incident is not an isolated one in Thailand, where human-elephant conflicts have occurred before. With an estimated 4,000 to 4,400 wild elephants in the country, such encounters are not uncommon, although the declining elephant population has led to a decrease in incidents. Loss of suitable habitats, agricultural incursions, and resulting changes in elephant behavior are cited as primary causes of human-elephant conflicts, resulting in casualties and property damage, particularly to farmers’ crops.
The Thai elephant population, once estimated at 300,000, has significantly declined over the years due to habitat loss, poaching, and human conflicts. Addressing these issues is crucial to mitigate the risks of human-elephant encounters.