Even though humans have been trying to domesticate wild animals for centuries with moderate success, we forget some key rules along the way. The one rule that any human needs to remember while dealing with wild animals is that they are wild animals. Unlike humans, they will not back down if they think they are being harmed. And with the size and ferocity that they possess, it usually leads to disaster. Take this recent elephant attack for example.
They are considered to be one of the smartest animals on the planet. Also, they are usually quite docile and gentle. But who amongst us has never heard of elephant attacks? Hordes of beasts trampling farmlands and humans alike, simply because they can.[1] Recently, one elephant attack led to quite a gory tragedy. The massive mammal reportedly tore his handler in half at a plantation in Thailand. According to local sources, the elephant went into a frenzy due to the overwhelming heat.
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Elephant Attack Leads To The Death Of Handler In Thailand
The law enforcement officials are of the opinion that the elephant had been furious at the handler for making it work in the extremely hot weather. This incident took place in the Phang Nga province in Southern Thailand. The handler, Supachai Wongfaed, was first stabbed by the elephant’s tusks. After that, the 20-year-old elephant called Pom Pam wrenched its tusks apart, subsequently tearing the man in half. Thaiger reports that several officers rushed to the scene, who then shot and sedated the elephant so they could safely retrieve the body.[2]
This isn’t the first elephant attack in Thailand this year. Just the previous month, one such attack took place in the Nakhon Sri Thammarat province. The police suspected that the beast was under quite a bit of stress due to the overwhelming work. And this is exactly why it stabbed its handler to death and then stood over the corpse for hours. The CEO of Save The Asian Elephants charity, Duncan McNair, stated that the elephants in this continent were physically and psychologically damaged. The work had exhausted the elephants and the handlers were constantly forcing them to work even under extreme duress. Speaking to Newsweek, McNair stated, “It is yet another stark reminder that Asian elephants are and always remain wild animals that can attack and kill when they are abused or overly stressed by humans.”[3]
Another incident of an elephant attack was the Mayurbhanj tragedy in June. A rampaging elephant attacked a woman twice. First, the elephant attacked her while she was alive and killed her. And then it attacked her corpse at her funeral. According to official sources, the deceased- Maya Murmu, a 68-year-old woman, was fetching water when the elephant attacked her. Local officials believe that the woman had strayed too close to the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary on the 9th of June.
Keep Reading: Herd Of Elephants Tramples And Kills Suspected Poacher In South Africa
Sources
- “Elephant stabs handler with tusks then rips them in half after being given heavy workload in extreme heat.” Lad Bible. Lisa McLoughlin. August 24, 2022.
- “Elephant rips handler in half after heat ‘drives it crazy’.” Yahoo. Samuel Webb. August 24, 2022.
- “Elephant rips handler in half in Thailand after working in extreme heat: report.” NY Post. Stephen Sorace . August 24, 2022.