Today's Updating Report
TWO MALE elephants fought over a female on a trekking ride through Khao Sok National Park, north of Phuket, trampling one tourist to death and leaving several others with injuries.
A Swiss woman has been killed, and an Australian woman and two other victims are being treated for injuries in Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City.
One person remains in intensive care after the incident, which occurred yesterday, Phuketwan reporters learned at the hospital.
A Swiss couple, an Australian couple and an English couple were riding the elephants. One of the English pair has 12 broken ribs, Phuketwan has been told.
The tour group is believed to be run by a well-known Phuket brand, Siam Safari. A person at Siam Safari on Phuket today declined to confirm an incident had taken place.
The three injured tourists arrived at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, in Yaowarat Road, Phuket City, at 1am today.
It is believed some of the injuries occurred when the tourists jumped from the elephants. Mahouts were unable to control two of the beasts.
The deputy Surat Thani provincial veterinarian, Piya Naktongkul, told Phuketwan today that problems arose when two elephant tours intersected in the jungle about 3pm.
He said he had been told by a Siam Safari staffer that four elephants met on the track.
One male, Buki, fought another male, Bookburg, for the attention of a female elephant, Noi. In the commotion, the Swiss woman toppled from Bookburg and was trampled to death, dying at the scene.
At least one tourist was injured in trying to dismount from Buki. The mahout on Noi managed to control his animal.
The injured were taken first to the local Panom Hospital before being relayed on to the better-equipped Phuket hospital.
Male elephant usually go through a period known as musth when they are liable to rampage.
One male elephant went berserk on Phuket in 2010 and several riders were fortunate to escape, although a Swedish man suffered serious leg injuries. The vast majority of elephants in camps on Phuket are female.
Khao Sok, in Surat Thani province, comprises the largest area of virgin forest in Southern Thailand and is a remnant of rain forest which is older and more diverse than the Amazon.
It's a popular destination for tourists from Phuket and Phang Nga.
That Was The Year 2010 For Phuketwan's editors and reporters, corruption and especially human trafficking are the standout issues that need more attention from authorities in 2011.
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So now there are traffic jams in the jungle??? Very informative, a 'musth' read.
Posted by Jon on February 23, 2011 18:31