NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: A rampaging elephant killed his mahout and fled into a nearby forest in Nop Phi Tham district before being subdued on Saturday morning.
Veterinarian Pornpirom Fungtakul rushed to tambon Nop Phi Tham after being alerted by local residents that the male elephant “Sidor Mongkhol’’ was hiding in the forest near a fruit plantation.
Local residents were gripped with fear as the pachyderm appeared wild and out of control. The elephant attacked his mahout Thanee Sae Siew, 40, on Friday evening before fleeing into the forest. Thanee was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.
Residents waited until morning before seeking help. The elephant was subdued after the veterinarian shot it with three tranquilliser darts on Saturday morning. He and other local residents then used a rope as a lasso to take the animal to a creek to drink water.
Mr Pornpirom said he had checked the elephant's records and found that Thanee had bought the animal from Chawang district to work in Nop Phi Tham.