Overview
- Park officials identified the victim as Jirathachai Jiraphatboonyathorn of Lopburi, who was attacked near his campsite during an early morning walk.
- The assault occurred around 5:30 a.m. near the Khlong Pla Kang campground, where the elephant reportedly grabbed the man with its trunk, slammed him down, and trampled him.
- The victim’s wife escaped after rangers frightened the animal away, according to Khao Yai National Park chief Chaiya Huayhongthong.
- Officials say the bull, known as Oyewan (Phlai Oyewan), is tied to three deaths and could be linked to additional unsolved cases, with patrols and monitoring expanded as inquiries proceed.
- Authorities are weighing relocation or behavior modification for the elephant, as Thailand confronts rising human–elephant conflicts alongside a surge in wild elephant numbers and the rollout of contraceptive vaccines for population control.