Thread: Enraged elephant kills Chinese tour guide in Chon Buri

An angry bull elephant killed a Chinese tour guide at an elephant camp in Chon Buri, southeast of Bangkok, on Thursday evening.

The tour guide was trampled to death at about 5.30pm, allegedly after someone angered the animal by pulling its tail, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.

He Yongjie, 34, was trampled by a 17-year-old male elephant named “Plai Uthen” at the Sam Liam Thong Kham elephant camp in Bang Lamung district, which is close to Pattaya.

Two tourists riding on the back of the elephant were also injured and taken to hospital.


The mahout and owner of the elephant said later the animal had been upset by a tourist pulling its tail, causing it to charge into a crowd of tourists and kill the guide.


More than 2,100 elephants work at tourist sites in Thailand, drawing a large amount of revenue from tourists, despite occasional dramas such as the latest death.


Just a month ago, a famous five-ton elephant called Ekasit, which had starred in films and commercials, killed its owner in Chiang Mai, in the country’s north.


The 32-year-old elephant turned and grabbed Somsak Riengngen, 54, with its trunk and crushed him.


Peta, the group that campaigns for animal rights, said the tragedy showed the potential dangers of keeping elephants confined, and working them for long hours.


Wildlife groups have been calling for an end to elephant shows and tourist sites that use elephants for many years, but the industry is large and influential, given these sites draw in large numbers of tourists – both local and foreign – as well as considerable revenue for operators.


http://www.atimes.com/article/enraged-elephant-kills-chinese-tour-guide-chon-buri/

Pro tip: Don't pull an Elephant's tail!

Mahout and elephant not responsible. What kind of idiot thinks it's clever to pull an elephants tail?

More than 2,100 elephants work at tourist sites in Thailand, drawing a large amount of revenue from tourists, despite occasional dramas such as the latest death.

Clearly considered a price worth paying.

Nelly won't forget that in a hurry.

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

What kind of idiot thinks it's clever to pull an elephants tail?

The same kind of idiot that shits on the floor in Chaing Mai temples, does graffiti on Buddha statues, and fights over buffet prawns.
No need to mention any nationality.

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

Mahout and elephant not responsible. What kind of idiot thinks it's clever to pull an elephants tail?

Are they sure it was the tail or was it something else that was pulled?

Originally Posted by Mandaloopy

Pro tip: Don't pull an Elephant's tail!

Depends how you feel about your tour guide, I suppose.

Originally Posted by Mandaloopy

Pro tip: Don't pull an Elephant's tail!

There's a rhyme about that...

...pulled the wrong bit
...got covered in shit

Witnesses: Elephant was stuck by keeper before fatal attack

A Shanghai couple who watched in horror as a rampaging elephant killed a Chinese tour guide during their vacation in Thailand have spoken of the tragedy for the first time.


Thai police are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of He Yongjie, 35, from Chongqing, who was trampled to death on Thursday in the tourist city of Pattaya.


However, the couple, who had been riding the elephant at the time, confirmed to Chinese media on Monday that they saw the mahout－the animal's keeper－strike the animal several times in the run-up to the attack.


After setting off from an elephant camp in Bang Lamung district, the elephant stopped after walking only a dozen meters, the couple said in an interview with Chonging news website CQNews.


The mahout "first pulled the reins and then used his goad to whack the elephant's head", according to the husband, surnamed Zhu. He said the elephant started ramming a tree and rushing nearby crowds shortly after.


When the elephant knocked into a tourist bus, Zhu said his wife was thrown to the ground on the left hand side.


The giant animal lurched right, he said. "It hit someone, and the tour guide tried to drag the victim away," he recalled, adding that the elephant then grabbed He with his trunk and threw him to the ground before stomping on him several times.


Zhu said the attack lasted about 10 minutes. "The mahout, who remained atop the elephant the entire time, smacked the elephant's head seven or eight times during the rampage," he said.


The couple declined to comment when contacted by China Daily on Tuesday due to privacy concerns, but did confirm they had spoken to CQNews.


The couple's statement matches accounts given by other tourists from Chongqing.


Tian Maoxi, a member of the group He was leading that day, has produced a written statement of his experience of the tragedy, which has been signed by fellow tourists. He said he had hoped to submit the statement to Thai police, but they did not accept it. Instead, he gave it to the victim's wife.


In a Bangkok Post report, the mahout－identified as Au Bamrung, 37－was quoted as saying that the 17-year-old male elephant, named Plai Uthen, had been provoked by a tourist who pulled its tail.


According to China Global Television Network, local police said on Sunday the case is under investigation, but they said there was inadequate evidence to back up Bamrung's account. The elephant ride service was suspended on Friday.


The deceased man's family arrived in Pattaya on Friday. His cousin said the family has rejected a compensation offer of 400,000 yuan ($60,600) from the elephant camp and a Thai insurance company, and is demanding to know what caused the incident, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

Witnesses: Elephant was stuck by keeper before fatal attack - Chinadaily.com.cn

Tian Maoxi, a member of the group He was leading that day, has produced a written statement of his experience of the tragedy, which has been signed by fellow tourists. He said he had hoped to submit the statement to Thai police, but they did not accept it. Instead, he gave it to the victim's wife.


In a Bangkok Post report, the mahout－identified as Au Bamrung, 37－was quoted as saying that the 17-year-old male elephant, named Plai Uthen, had been provoked by a tourist who pulled its tail.

So basically the RTP is shamelessly siding with the person whose behaviour prompted this tragedy, because he is Thai, and they have all agreed to pin the tail story on a foreigner.

Meanwhile...

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

Mahout and elephant not responsible. What kind of idiot thinks it's clever to pull an elephants tail?

Perhaps we could cease with the elephant shows/rides/attractions, altogether....

^ Yep high time to put an end to elephant riding activities and shows...as their owners seem to use them like a motorcycle, overriding them, not taking into account their mood etc...to both elephants and customers' detriment.

Can't blame members for falling for the spin (tail pulled), I believed it as well, it's difficult to prove it was fake.

It's a tale of the "Elephant in the Room "