PHUKET — A mahout was killed by his elephant in musth at a camp in Muang district on Tuesday.
Rescuers prepare the body of a mahout for transport after he was killed by a 23-year old male elephant in musth at an elephant camp in Phuket's Muang district on Tuesday. (Photo by Achataya Chuenniran)
Police said 21-year-old mahout Wittawas Sala-ngarm from Surin was attacked by 23-year-old Sidor elephant named Nong Por while he was unchaining him for tourist rides in Phuchaya elephant camp at 10am. Sidor is a name used for male elephants with short tusks.
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An investigation found the elephant jabbed the young handler with his tusks in the torso and arms, killing him on spot, while in a lust-fuelled frenzy.
Police believed the jumbo was upset when Wittawas was trying to control him.
The accident is the second involving pachyderms this week. On Sunday, a rampaging male elephant killed his mahout and fled into a forest with a Russian female tourist and her 8-year-old daughter on his back. They were recovered safely.
In both cases, the elephants were in musth, a periodic condition in bull elephants display highly aggressive behavior and experience a large rise in reproductive hormones.