A 65-year-old tourist was killed by a wild bull elephant on Monday, park officials reported.
The tourist was walking with his wife in the morning at Khao Yai National Park when an elephant trampled him, park chief Chaiya Huayhongthong informed AFP.
According to Chaiya, park rangers were able to frighten the elephant off, enabling the man’s wife to get away safely.
“He was Oyewan’s third victim,” he stated, noting that a meeting is scheduled for Friday to determine the course of action regarding the elephant.
He told the outlet, “The likely options are to relocate him or modify his behavior,” providing no further details.
The fatality was named as Jirathachai Jiraphatboonyathorn from Lopburi province, according to the report.
Digital contacted Khao Yai for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Citing a report from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, wild elephants have been responsible for an estimated 227 human deaths in Thailand between 2012 and 2024.
AFP reported that Thailand’s elephant population has surged since 2015, growing from 334 to almost 800 last year. To control the numbers, authorities have administered contraceptives to female elephants.