Wild elephant injures woman after escaping from protected area of Thailand

A wild Thai elephant in Battambang province yesterday. Photo supplied

A woman in Battambang province was hospitalised after being trampled by a wild Thai elephant early yesterday.

Officials said the female elephant appeared to have escaped from a protected forestry area across the border in Thailand more than a week ago and had been destroying crops in Sampov Loun and Phnom Proek districts.

Song Sopheak, chief of Phnom Proek district police, said the elephant attacked a group of workers sleeping under a tent on their farm.

Chak Kim Hai, 32, had 10 ribs broken in the attack and was sent to Battambang Provincial Hospital for treatment.

District authorities worked with environmental rangers to chase the elephant back to the jungle and are waiting for a wildlife conservation group from Thailand to retrieve her, according to Bour Commune Chief Kieth Chenda.

Battambang Provincial Governor Ngoun Ratanak said a group of Thai environmental experts arrived yesterday and that authorities hope to bring the elephant back to the Thai sanctuary this afternoon.

“Right now, I’m going to visit the victim in the hospital,” Ratanak said.

Contact author: Khouth Sophak Chakrya

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