BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin has ordered immediate compensation and enhanced safety measures following two fatal wild elephant attacks in Khon Kaen and Loei provinces. The incidents, both taking place yesterday (Oct 20), claimed the lives of two men in areas outside protected forest zones.
The first attack happened around 7:09 p.m. near Ban Kut Nam Sai in Phu Wiang district, where a 50-year-old man was killed while rangers were attempting to guide elephants back into the forest. The second incident took place near the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei, where a 62-year-old man was fatally attacked outside the sanctuary boundary.
Suchart instructed the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to provide full financial compensation to both victims’ families in accordance with the 2025 government regulation on wildlife-related damage. The payments will be made using central government funds, with initial assistance to be delivered during the funeral ceremonies by DNP representatives.
The Deputy Premier also directed authorities to step up surveillance and prevention in high-risk areas across both provinces while ordering local units to increase patrols, use modern tracking technology, and beef up efforts to drive elephants back into protected zones.
In addition, park officials were instructed to work with community leaders to educate residents on safety practices when encountering wild elephants. The Office of Conservation Area Management Region 8 has since convened an emergency meeting to coordinate new prevention measures and deploy teams to monitor vulnerable areas. (NNT)
