The Khlong Pla Kang campsite in Khao Yai National Park was closed after a tourist, identified as Jirathachai Jiraphatboonyathorn in his 60s, was fatally attacked by a wild bull elephant on Feb. 2. Authorities say the same elephant has been linked to at least three reported deaths. Officials have increased ranger patrols, issued safety guidance for visitors during the dry season, and are weighing options such as relocation or behaviour modification to reduce further risks.
Khao Yai Campsite Closed After Wild Bull Elephant Kills Tourist — Same Elephant Linked To Third Fatality
An elephant in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.Getty
A popular campsite at Khao Yai National Park in Thailand was ordered closed after a tourist was fatally attacked by a wild bull elephant on Feb. 2, officials and local media report.
What Happened
The Khlong Pla Kang campsite, located on the edge of the Northeastern Plateau, was shut by order of Nakhon Ratchasima governor Anupong Suksomnit following the attack. Authorities identified the victim as Jirathachai Jiraphatboonyathorn, a man in his 60s. Park rangers frightened the elephant away, allowing the man's wife to escape unharmed, national park official Chaiya Huayhongthong told Agence France-Presse.
Officials and news reports say this bull elephant has been linked to at least three reported fatalities, though park authorities have cautioned that additional incidents may not yet be confirmed.
Haew Su Wat Waterfall in Thailand's Khao Yai National Park.MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty
Response And Safety Measures
The closure is part of a wider effort to protect visitors and local communities. Authorities have increased ranger patrols across tourist sites and urged visitors to travel in groups, keep quiet, and calmly leave areas if they encounter elephants — advice officials stress is particularly important during the dry season when wild elephants more frequently forage near park borders.
"We will probably decide to relocate him or change his behaviour," Chaiya Huayhongthong told the AFP when asked about how authorities might deal with the bull elephant responsible for the attack.
Park administrators and provincial offices have not yet publicly confirmed the specific course of action. Officials say options under consideration include relocation, nonlethal deterrence or behaviour-modification efforts aimed at reducing the risk to people while protecting the animal where possible. Investigations and deliberations are ongoing.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Bangkok Post, Pattaya Mail, Khaosod English and People.
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